Editor’s Note: Today we’re pleased to share our third vendor profile, highlighting the history, products and accomplishments of one of the many high-performance auto racing brand we specialize in here at CV Products. This time around, we’re putting the klieg lights on Mahle Clevite, a 93-year-old manufacturer of bearings, bushings and piston rings made especially for the racing industry. Here at CV Products, we carry three of the company’s lines: Clevite cam bearings, Clevite rod bearings, and Clevite piston rings.
Pistons being washed by Mahle Clevite employee.
Mahle began in 1920 as a small German test workshop that soon determined it needed to develop some auto products to sell in order to finance the combustion engine testing performed there. Back then, pistons were made of heavy cast iron. The Mahle brothers — Hermann and Ernst — were instrumental in helping the company develop the first light alloy pistons in Germany. Then, in order to keep dirt and dust out of the engines they were testing, they developed air and oil filters. As their aluminum pistons became increasingly popular, the company grew.
And by grow, we mean Mahle is now among the top 30 automotive suppliers worldwide and one of the three largest suppliers of piston systems, cylinder components, valve train systems, air management systems and liquid management systems on this planet. The company has about 48,000 employees working in 100 production plants and seven research and development centers worldwide.
But what’s more important to those of us who like our keep our racing machines at a constant top speed is Mahle’s high-quality components for motorsport. We’re talking about auto racing pistons, piston rings, piston pins, connecting rods, bearings and bushings that have been developed with victory in mind. Race track victories, to be specific.
And that’s where this manufacturer of speed really shines. Mahle pistons and components in racing engines guarantee maximum performance and outstanding reliability. For instance, did you know that for 19 years in a row, the winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans have had Mahle pistons under the hood?
How about this factoid: A few seasons back, seven out of 10 Formula 1 teams used Mahle’s motorsports components in their vehicles. And the company is always well represented at the World Rally Championship, the German Touring Masters, the World Touring Car Championship, as well as several motorcycle and offshore powerboat competitions.
So it’s no wonder CV Products is proud to profile this powerful parts manufacturer! When it comes to pistons, for example, Mahle is still “dancin’ with the one that brought you.” And that dance partner remains aluminum. It’s fatigue resistant and light in weight. Aluminum offers high thermal conductivity. It is simple to produce, highly reliable and has great recycling potential.
And while the company continues to explore other materials such as carbon, magnesium and powder-metallic aluminum for its pistons, it has determined that improved cast and forged aluminum alloys still do the job best. It’s sticking with a winning dance partner.
When it comes to Mahle Clevite products, CV Products carries:
