Dongfeng to adopt CGI blocks and heads

Another of China’s diesel engine makers has chosen to adopt European diesel engine technology by going down the route of using compacted graphite iron (CGI) material for engine cylinder blocks and heads to increase engine performance.

Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd., one of China's leading truck brands and China's largest heavy duty truck maker, has entered into a technology supply agreement with the Swedish process control specialist SinterCast for Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) product development. 

Under the terms of the agreement, a SinterCast Mini-System 3000 will be installed at the Dongfeng Technology Centre's R&D foundry located in Shiyan City, China. 

The Mini-System 3000, which is planned to be shipped during the first quarter of 2015 and installed during the second quarter, will enable Dongfeng Trucks to independently develop high quality CGI cylinder blocks and heads. 

SinterCast will also provide technical support for the establishment of robust CGI production procedures and for CGI product development.

"This order marks our ninth installation in China and our fifteenth installation in Asia, broadening our presence and brand awareness, and increasing our opportunity to support the future series production needs of the important Asian market" said Dr Steve Dawson, president and chief executive officer of SinterCast. 

"Asia currently accounts for 15 of our 40 installations, but it is even more significant to note that 10 of our last 20 installations have been secured in China, Japan and Korea.  We will continue to focus on increasing our installed base and promoting new CGI product applications in order to grow the total market opportunity."

Dongfeng Commercial Vehicles was set up in 1969 and has its headquarters in Shiyan City in Hubei province. The company, part of Dongfeng Motor Company Ltd., claims to have a production capacity of 200,000 medium and heavy duty trucks a year.

It develops and manufactures engines, transmissions, axles, cabs and chassis. It claims to be expanding “globally” and is “gradually” establishing a global sales and service network.

Interestingly, Ford Motor Company still leads the charge in the application of CGI material to gasoline engines with the arrival of the 2.7-litre Ecoboost turbocharged V6 engine in the 2015 F-150 pick-up truck.