Driving force for new Lada
January 1st 2004

A Thompson Friction Welding machine is being used by Avtovaz Inc, the maker of Lada cars, to produce driveshafts for a range of vehicles, including the new 4WD Riva Chevy. Thompson has supplied a double-ended Model 15 fitted with a fully automated loading and unloading system to the Avtovaz main factory in Togliatti, Russia. The machine friction welds two forgings into a single tubular centre component that is used to transmit the power from the engine to the vehicles wheels via the CV joints. Model 15 has also been equipped with a Siemens computerised weld monitoring system that records the entire friction welding process during the weld cycle, ensuring the production of consistently accurate, quality components. It is the sixth machine to be supplied By Thompson to Avtovaz that not only uses the friction welding equipment for producing driveshafts, but also engine valves. In recent months, Thompson has won a substantial number of orders for its friction welding machines from component makers around the world, including Arvin Meritor, Dae Seung and Visteon.

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