Stainless steel honeycombs use an catalytic converters set to rise - The Supply Side - Brief Article

Automotive Industries, April, 2002

A recent survey by Eldib Engineering and Research in Berkeley Heights, NJ, suggests metallic honeycomb use is on the rise in Europe.

According to the survey use of stainless steel metallic honeycombs will grow by 15 to 20 percent in both France and Germany while ceramic honeycomb use will increase by only 3 percent

Automakers will turn to metallic honeycombs to take advantage of increased efficiency but decreased environmental hazards, says Eldib.

Other results of the survey:

* 6.77 million catalytic converters were used in Germany during 2000

1.66 million contained metallic honeycombs

5.11 million contained ceramic honeycombs

* 2.8 million catalytic converters were used in France during 2000

191,000 contained metallic honeycombs

2.6 contained ceramic honeycombs

* BMW used 1,523,239 catalyic converters

1,008,393 were stainless steel honeycombs

514,393 were ceramic honeycombs

* Automakers that use stainless steel in some models include: Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, and Porsche.