While turbochargers have been a part of the automotive landscape for decades, they are becoming integral parts of new engines and designs from OEMs across the globe. No longer is the turbo just a part of a performance car. Instead, as companies look to shrink displacements and increase efficiencies, turbos are becoming the defacto answer. Knowing that this trend was coming, several of the largest OEM equipment suppliers have invested heavily in developing turbochargers, Honeywell and Borg-Warner are two such companies and for the last four years they have been locked in a major legal battle that just ended.
The dispute between the two companies centered around the cast titanium compressor wheel used, developed, and manufactured by Borg-Warner. B-W claimed that Honeywell was infringing on their patent with pieces used in their turbochargers. Both B-W and Honeywell have been vocal about their triumphs in gaining business from OEM companies and their projected sales volumes over the next few years. We’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars in business for both of these companies.
Honeywell thinks that turbocharger usage in the US along will double by the year 2015. That means a flood of small displacement turbo mills headed to market. While that makes our big block loving heart hurt a little, it also means that there will be lots of little econo jobs running around to offset hairy V8 models as CAFE averages continue to rise.
We’re entering a brave new world of automotive technology and suits like this give an indication of what the future holds in store.
Thanks for MSD’s Robert Martin for the tip!
(Honeywell to pay Borg-Warner $32.5-million over turbo patent suit)
Shoulda bought Borg-Warner stock Last week!
they settled, and honeywell can now produce their turbo without changing a thing…. sorry, this is a big “meh” to me. 32.5 million is weekend spending money for the corporations….
I put a Garrett/Honeywell turbo on my Dodge Cummins, they ain’t that great.