New Technology Drives Israel’s Automotive Industry
Israeli companies have for decades manufactured a diverse range of the most sophisticated components and assemblies for the world’s automotive industry. Local firms supply the major global vehicle manufacturers as well as aerospace corporations and more recently the railway industry and and can act as OEM suppliers, after market manufacturers, tooling and and production line tool providers and are world leaders in developing innovative automotive technologies.
Israeli companies combine traditional engineering precision with advanced design and the latest technologies and those manufacturers active in the automotive sector come from many industries including plastics, rubber, metal, and electronics. Many defense manufacturers have successfully adapted and applied their technologies to the civilian automotive industry.
The most oustanding example of Israeli innovation in this area is ICL Metallurgy, a joint venture between Israel Chemicals (65%) and Volkswagen (35%) to transform the concentrated magnesium in the Dead Sea into high-quality metal magnesium alloys for use in the manufacture of vehicles. ICL Metallurgy has sales of more than $100 million per year. The lightest of all commercially available alloys, magnesium is used for support beams on dashboards and steering columns, interior brackets, valve cam covers, and more.
Other products in this sector include aircraft parts, car parts and accessories, marine equipment, railway and bus assembly, towing and tipping equipment etc. Companies producing parts for the aerospace industry include Blades Technology, which makes aircraft propellers and blades, and Carmel Forge, owned by Pratt and Whitney, produces disks, rings and cases for aircraft engines. Techjet Aerofoils Ltd. is a world leader in the development and manufacture of compressor aerofoils and is owned jointly by Blades and UK manufacturer Rolls Royce. Ashot Ashkelon manufactures gears and transmission systems for the aerospace industryas well as off-road and heavy vehicles.
TAT Group Ltd. designs, develops, manufactures and markets aerospace products and systems including heat management systems, cooling systems, heat sinks, heat exchangers, cold plates and related products. In the marine transport sector, Israel Shipyards Ltd. (ISL) is one of the largest privately owned shipbuilding and repair facilities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Haargaz’s transportation plant builds and refurbishes buses using the chassis of leading vehicle manufacturers such as Mercedes, MAN, Volvo and Scania. These buses include low city buses, inter-city buses and luxury tour buses. Haargaz also makes armor plated buses for the enhanced security. Another Israeli company, which manufactures security accessories for vehicles is Oran Palmach Zova, which produces safety, high quality laminated windshields and tempered sidelights.
Deutsch Dagan is a supplier to OEM automotive manufacturers in the USA and Europe using the most up-to-date CNC machining centers and lathes, single spindle, multi-spindle and Swiss type automatic screw machines. Migan designs and manufactures automotive and aircraft parts including Reusable and rigid hose fittings for low, medium and high pressure, air and hand operated pumps, valves and connectors for special purposes and fuel management systems. MAG is a supplier of integrative mechanical and electro-mechanical assemblies for the automotive industry and Englander produces precision stamped metal parts, tools and dyes for automotive applications. Matar Casting manufactures aluminum and magnesium gravity castings and low pressure casting, including in-house machining and automotive assembly, while Nordia springs produces springs for vehicle manufacturers and Ortal Diecasting is engaged in zinc and magnesium diecasting.
Alex Original manufactures air-conditioning for cars, minibuses and special applications including refrigeration systems and electric doors for vans and minibuses. Polyrit produces flexible and rigid polyurethane products for vehicles and Raviv specializes in thermoplastic-based components and modules as well as precision injection molding, insert molding and vertical molding for automotive applications. Siron Microtech is able to manufacture parts made to customer’s drawings on automatic turning screw machines – CAM and CNC controlled.
Among other things Israeli companies design, develop, manufacture and market cables and exhaust systems, radiators, batteries for trucks and buses, precision stamped metal parts, fuel and air filters, electronic components, security systems, and more. For example Tadir-Gan (Precision Products ) Ltd., produces high-quality precision metal parts. The company has been awarded General Motors Supplier of the Year for its superior performance in quality, service, technology, and price. Tadir-Gan also supplies Opel, Peugeot, Man, Ford, and Citroen.
A growing number of Israeli high-tech companies are entering the marketplace as more and more advanced developments direct the way in which OEMs design, develop, and manufacture vehicles. Israeli companies are focusing on telematics, driver safety systems, and tracking technologies. Innovative Israeli developments are contributing to safer, more efficient transport by such means as reducing traffic accidents and increasing energy efficiency.
MobileEye Vision Technologies has developed a complete range of vision applications for driver assistance and for safety related applications. MobileEye and Denso Corporation, a Japanese-based manufacturer of auto parts and electronic systems, have formed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop advanced driver assistance systems combining MobilEye’s video processing technology with other sensory systems.
Tecnomatix Technologies develops automobile manufacturing software. The company has a network of subsidiary offices in over 20 countries with more than a dozen distributors around the world. Customers include Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, and many more.
In recent years with the development of Israel’s railway network more and more local companies have been successfully manufacturing railways parts. One such example is Paltechnica, which produces high quality ergonomic seats for train carriages working with Bombadier, Adtranz and Alstrom. Paltechnica recent signed a contract to supply Siemens with 6,750 seats.