1971—1990

Piston

New Horizons

1971The previously independent MAHLE companies are grouped together to form MAHLE GmbH

1972Acquisition of shares in Knecht Filterwerke GmbH, Germany, and consequently also in Knecht Filterwerk Ges.m.b.H., Austria

1973 Acquisition of a holding in FISA Fundiciones Industriales S.A. in Spain—now MAHLE S.A.

1974 Introduction of star-pleated filter elements in dedusting technology

1976 Aluminum engine blocks made using low-pressure die casting process reach the series production stage

First pistons made of ductile iron (GGG) for truck diesel engines

1978 Establishment of MAHLE Manufacturing—now MAHLE, Inc., USA

Development of profiled piston pins

1979 Acquisition of CIMA, later MAHLE Indústria é Comércio Ltda., Brazil

1980 Cold extrusion of piston pin blanks

1981 Establishment of Metalúrgica Mogi Guaçu Ltda., Brazil—now part of MAHLE Metal Leve, S.A.

1983 Pleuco GmbH—now MAHLE Ventiltrieb GmbH, Germany—acquires Sinterwerke Grenchen AG, Switzerland—now MAHLE Motorkomponenten Schweiz AG. Pleuco GmbH only manufacturer of cast and sintered valve seat inserts and guides

First use of freely programmable CNC profiling lathes in piston machining

1984First standard use of laser welding in the automotive industry (on valve tappets)

1985 HYDROTHERMIC® and HYDROTHERMATIK® pistons in series production

Introduction of ecological filter elements

Production of composite camshafts

1986 Acquisition of Técafiltres S.A. and Soparis S.A., France—now MAHLE Filter Systems France SAS

1987 Acquisition of Mondial Piston S.p.A., Italy—now MAHLE Componenti Motori Italia S.p.A.

Introduction of FERROTHERM® pistons

1988 Composite pistons for large diesel engines with bore cooling

1989 Ceramic fiber-reinforced LIQUOSTATIK® aluminum pistons for high-load diesel engines go into series production