Since January 2009, Bosch can look back on 50 million common-rail systems produced for diesel engines. Series production for this technology started in 1997. It made the diesel a modern and environmentally-friendly engine – a success story that has continued to this very day. The common-rail system provided the diesel with better performance, higher torque, and improved running smoothness. "Since the introduction of emissions legislation in 1990, we have also been able to reduce fuel consumption by 30 percent and pollutant emissions by more than 95 percent," says Dr. Ulrich Dohle, president of the Bosch Diesel Systems division.

 

Rapid market developments

The term "common rail" describes a high-pressure accumulator, or rail, from which the fuel is injected into the cylinders via the injectors connected to it. The first customers, Alfa Romeo with the 156 JTD and Mercedes with the 220 CDI, began marketing models featuring Bosch common-rail systems at the end of 1997. Volumes grew rapidly over the following years. By 2001, three million Bosch common-rail systems were in use, and by 2002 the figure had already risen to ten million systems. The share of diesel cars in western Europe rose from 20 to over 50 percent between 1997 and 2007. "In conjunction with turbocharging, this injection system paved the way to the breakthrough of the diesel engine," Dohle continues. Today, all well-known international automakers rely on Bosch common-rail systems. To meet this demand, the company manufactures the respective common-rail system components at 15 locations in Europe, Asia, and America.

 

Lower emissions – less fuel consumption

Compared with gasoline engines, the diesel's main selling points are: more than 30 percent reduced fuel consumption, and the fact that it emits approximately 25 percent less CO2. Moreover, when the Euro 5 emissions standard takes effect in September 2009, the NOx values for diesel will be roughly 95 percent lower than when emissions standards were introduced. The same applies to particulate emissions, which have been reduced by 97 percent over the same period. "By developing common-rail technology further, Bosch will contribute substantially to the further reduction of fuel consumption and diesel emissions, and make the diesel even more economical and environmentally friendly," says Dohle.

 

Spetstorg is the biggest distributor of Bosch production in the Ukrainian market from 2004.

 

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. According to preliminary figures, some 282,000 associates generated sales of roughly 45 billion euros in the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology in fiscal 2008. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 300 subsidiaries and regional companies in over 60 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Each year, Bosch spends more than three billion euros for research and development, and applies for over 3,000 patents worldwide. With all its products and services, Bosch enhances the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial.

The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as "Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering." The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.

Source: Bosch Group