Innovation

Ideas for the future: LEONI innovation

Innovation is a core component of our corporate strategy. LEONI’s products and systems are regarded as drivers of innovation in many sectors, including the automotive industry, medical technology and telecommunications, and our customers can all experience greater success by implementing our ideas with their products.

The following solutions and processes are just some examples of our innovations.


Less weight and more automation: increased potential in medium cross-section cables

Cost and weight savings are increasingly important for our customers. LEONI has recently developed the technology for medium cross section aluminium cables to be used in vehicle wiring systems.

Saving weight is a priority. For a number of years aluminium cables have been successfully used for large cross-section cable applications. In vehicles, however, only a few large cross-sections are used. Therefore, the weight saving benefits of aluminium cables can be exploited only if medium-sized cross-sections are also considered. LEONI’s range now extends to this segment, too.

Compared with conventional copper cables, aluminium cables in the medium cross-section range of 2.5 mm² to 6 mm² require a different approach to production technology. To implement this technology, LEONI’s production processes utilise a fully-automated cutting machine, coupled with a device to detect any possible damage that might be caused during the stripping of the stranded wires. This technology is available for immediate use in all types of vehicles.

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Passenger cars


Image of a power distributor with a detailed view of the grounding bracket as a shielding connection

From cable to casing – “Grounding bracket” provides a better connection

Electric and hybrid vehicles are on the rise and are becoming increasingly complex. To continue driving this trend forward, the vehicles now need specially tailored wiring system architectures, which in turn often necessitate the use of a power distributor. The demands placed on these power distributors are many and varied. As well as needing to fit into a limited installation space and be as lightweight as possible, one of their main functions is to create a secure connection to the cable and ensure that the contact resistance between the cable shield and the casing remains consistently low.

The grounding bracket developed by LEONI meets all of the above requirements. Not only that, it offers further advantages such as a compact design and a simple shape for easy integration into the component casing, a shield contact of nearly 360-degrees, less weight compared to similar solutions and the fact that it can be disassembled for repair work.

The scalable design makes this solution incredibly versatile and enables it to be integrated with other wiring system components.

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High temperature foam – for when it gets hot under the bonnet

Motors complying with the new Euro 6 standard tend to generate more heat than conventional power units, due at least in part to their improved insulation. As a result, the cables used in these motors also need to be more resistant to higher temperatures. LEONI has therefore developed a new, high temperature foam that demonstrates long-term stability at 130 °C and can even withstand temperatures of 140 °C over the short-term. In addition to this property, the cable systems’ jackets are particularly sturdy and yet flexible whilst also providing improved noise protection.

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Distribution boxes – competent with components

Regardless of whether a vehicle uses a conventional or alternative drive model, both types require a complex wiring system with a large number of electrical and electronic components. Current trends show that, in the future, these components will have to deliver greater performance whilst weighing less, thereby placing high demands on them.

LEONI has worked with Continental to develop a high voltage power distributor for electric vehicles that meets the highest demands in terms of safety and electromagnetic compatibility whilst allowing auxiliary components to be operated. The invention has already been awarded a prize for innovation.  

For traditional vehicles, LEONI has designed an innovative power distribution module (PDM) with a new mounting concept that makes it both lighter and considerably smaller.

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