22/05/2024 | Press release

The technology group Rheinmetall won yet another order from a long-standing customer from the commercial vehicles segment, this time for a six-figure quantity of high-pressure valves. The total value of this order, which comes as part of a customer relationship going back more than ten years, lies in the low three-digit-million-euro range.

Rheinmetall serves as a tier-1 supplier for this customer. The current order relates to the manufacturer’s truck segment and is for high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and exhaust backpressure valves. These two vital combustion engine components help to reduce harmful emissions, first by feeding nitrogen oxide emissions back into the combustion process and, second, by optimizing engine performance.

Production of this batch is scheduled to start in January 2027 and end in 2030. The contract also includes the supply of spare parts amounting to approximately 10% of annual sales. The components have a cost-efficient, failsafe design and a long service life and are capable of withstanding high thermal and mechanical stressing, factors that ensured Rheinmetall’s success over market competitors. Over the many years of this partnership, the Group has continuously enhanced and refined the components to achieve their current level of performance and meet customer expectations.

Exhaust gas recirculation helps to reduce pollutants in gasoline and diesel engines. The exhaust gas is extracted downstream of the cylinders, routed through the EGR valve and mixed back into the intake air, meaning that less oxygen enters the cylinders. This results in a lower combustion temperature and reduces the amount of nitrogen oxide by up to 70 percent – because the higher the temperature, the more harmful nitrogen oxides are produced. In diesel vehicles, backpressure valves are additionally installed in the intake tract. These ensure the necessary pressure difference on the exhaust and intake sides in order to achieve the required high EGR rates, reducing overall carbon dioxide emissions and consumption as a result.

This order is a new order that is linked with ongoing production. Further potential exists for this engine platform and when it comes to the next generation of drives.

Rheinmetall is a system partner for all aspects concerning the precision-control of the exhaust gas recirculation rate, whether for diesel or gasoline engines, passenger cars, commercial vehicles or industrial engines. The portfolio of competencies encompasses everything from high-pressure and low-pressure EGR systems, cold-side and hot-side mounting through to “smart,” “non-smart,” metal and plastic housings. The products are tailored to the individual needs of the customers.

Despite the importance of state-of-the-art, emission-free transportation, the market segment for diesel-powered commercial vehicles is set to generate considerable demand for a long time to come. With this order, Rheinmetall underscores its expertise as a highly competent partner in global vehicle construction across all model variants – not only for modern, all-electric vehicles but also for conventional drives and, in particular, the technology designed to reduce their emissions.