Navistar Launches New V8 Diesel Engine with Compacted Graphite Iron Cylinder Block

      * New 6.4 litre V8 diesel engine based on a SinterCast-CGI cylinder block   * Cylinder block production underway at the Cifunsa foundry in Mexico   * CGI provides 15% weight reduction, increased durability and lower noise  

[St. Louis, Missouri, 10 March 2010] - Navistar International Corporation, one of the world's leading manufacturers of diesel engines and commercial vehicles, has today launched its new MaxxForce(® )7 diesel engine at the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Show in St. Louis.  The Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) cylinder block of the state-of-the-art 6.4 litre V8 diesel engine began production at the Cifunsa foundry in Saltillo Mexico during January 2010, using the Swedish SinterCast process control technology.  The Navistar MaxxForce(® )7 cylinder block is the first CGI series production component at Cifunsa and provides an important CGI production reference as Cifunsa supports ongoing product development of other CGI components in the passenger vehicle and commercial

             vehicle             sectors.  

The use of a Compacted Graphite Iron cylinder block resulted in a 15% weight reduction relative to Navistar's previous generation 6.4 litre V8 cylinder block produced in grey cast iron.  Despite the reduced weight, the stronger and stiffer CGI block allowed for a class-leading performance increase to 300 horsepower (224 kW), 898 Nm of torque (660 lb-ft), and just 68.9 dBA at low idle, making it the quietest V8 diesel engine in North America.  Building on the robustness of the CGI cylinder block, the B50 life of the MaxxForce(® )7 diesel is a durable 375,000 miles (600,000 km).  The engine satisfies 2010 US federal emissions regulations - the most stringent NO(x) emissions requirements in the world - without the use of SCR exhaust treatment.

 "Navistar's decision to specify CGI for the MaxxForce(®) 7 cylinder block reinforces the trend toward Compacted Graphite Iron for the next generation of high performance and environmentally efficient engines" said Mr Alberto Piñones, Chief  Executive  Officer of Cifunsa SA de CV.  "We have seen a continuous increase in the demand for new CGI engine programmes and we regard CGI as one of Cifunsa's main growth areas in the near future.  Together with our recent upgrade to SinterCast's new System 3000 technology, and the successful start of production of the MaxxForce(® )7 CGI block, Cifunsa is well positioned to increase

           its          CGI          market          share." 

"In 2008, Navistar established itself as the first North American OEM to offer a diesel engine with a CGI cylinder block, with the launch of its MaxxForce(® )Big Bore 11 and 13 litre commercial vehicle engines.  Building on this positive experience with the Big Bore engines, we are pleased that Navistar has extended its leadership position by introducing the MaxxForce(®) 7 as its third CGI engine" said Dr. Steve Dawson, President & CEO of SinterCast.  "All three of the Navistar CGI engines use the SinterCast technology and we look forward to continuing to work with Navistar to develop and launch new environmentally friendly CGI engines."

    Mr. Alberto Piñones                      Dr. Steve Dawson   Chief Executive Officer                  President & CEO   Cifunsa S.A. de C.V.                     SinterCast AB (publ)   Tel:    +52 844 411 2051                 Tel:    +46 8 660 7750  

e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]

                                               st.com>    

Cifunsa S.A de C.V is a member of the Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS), one of the largest industrial groups in Mexico, founded in 1928.  With headquarters in Saltillo, four casting facilities and an installed capacity of 475,000 tonnes per year, Cifunsa is one of the largest independent foundries in the world. Cifunsa supplies iron castings to virtually every major OEM in operating in the North American market, including Caterpillar, Chrysler, Detroit Diesel, Ford, General Motors, John Deere, Navistar, Nissan and Volkswagen, plus a wide range of Tier I and Tier II suppliers to the automotive industry.  Cifunsa has been a partner of SinterCast since 1993, when it produced the first SinterCast-CGI cylinder blocks in North America.  In 1996, Cifunsa became the first cylinder block and head foundry in the world to sign an LTA with SinterCast and to install the SinterCast process control technology. With more than 15 years of CGI product development experience, the Navistar MaxxForce® 7 becomes Cifunsa's first CGI product to begin mass production. For more information: www.cifunsa.com.mx <../../Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/GM9ESN1Q/ww w.cifunsa.com.mx>

SinterCast is the world's leading supplier of process control technology for the reliable high volume production of Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI). With at least 75% higher tensile strength, 45% higher stiffness and approximately double the fatigue strength of conventional grey cast iron and aluminium, CGI allows engine designers to improve performance, fuel economy and durability while reducing engine weight, noise and emissions. SinterCast produces a variety of CGI components ranging from 2 kg to 17 tonnes, all using the same proven process control technology.  The end-users of SinterCast-CGI components include Aston Martin, Audi, Caterpillar, Chrysler, DAF Trucks, Ford, Ford-Otosan, General Electric Transportation Systems, General Motors, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, MAN, MAN Diesel, Navistar, Porsche, PSA Peugeot-Citroën, Renault, Rolls-Royce Power Engineering, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo and Waukesha Engine. The SinterCast share is quoted on the Small Cap segment of the Nordic Exchange, Stockholm (Stockholmsbörsen: SINT).  For more information: www.sintercast.com <../../Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/GM9ESN1Q/ww w.sintercast.com>

                                      - END -   [HUG#1392391]          Press Release (PDF): http://hugin.info/1205/R/1392391/350011.pdf