Earlier, passenger comfort and control of the driver over the vehicle was largely limited owing to the design of conventional hydraulic systems and components. Conventional shock absorbers make use of springs or fluid systems maintained under pressure. These systems, were largely divided on the basis of hard valving or soft valving constructions, which compromise either on shock absorption abilities or control over the vehicle.

On the other hand, the introduction of mono or two tubed gas charged shock absorbers solve many of these issues, by making use of pressurized gas such as air or nitrogen, which restricts the flow of fluids into the reserve tube, which improves the valving movement during compression, which assists in increasing damping abilities without compromising on handling.

Design Advances Increase Scope of Applications

Automotive gas charged shock absorbers are rapidly finding application in all kinds of automobiles. Innovations in heavy duty construction and frequent innovations such as twin disc integrations, which allows for effective operation in large vehicles and four wheel drive systems. An increasing number of automobile manufacturers are adopting multi-stage, high displacement working systems, with multi-lip sealing technologies, which increases the service life of these systems.

Gas charged shock absorbers are being designed to work regardless of the ride height. In addition, these devices make use of a high center of gravity, and low weight to sustain a high response time, with superior stability, and eliminating the sway of the vehicle that comes from acceleration and braking.

Increased quality control checks and road safety regulations ensure that gas charged shock absorbers are highly durable with long service lives. Consequently, manufacturers are providing users with extensive warranties for their products for multiple years or tens of thousands of kilometers, which is compatible with vehicles having various towing or load conditions.

Increasing Purchases of Two Wheelers Provide Opportunities for Mono Shock Absorbers

Mono tube gas charged shock absorbers are rapidly gaining preference over twin tube shock absorber designs, owing to their high resistance to aeration and cavitation. In addition, mono tube shock absorbers provide faster reaction times to changes in road conditions, without compromising on vehicle handling capabilities. Moreover, with increased preference for broader pressure areas, these suspension systems are projected to provide superior heat dissipation.

Mono tubed shock absorbers are projected to witness increased demand from two wheeler suspension manufacturers, as the demand for high performance vehicles with comparable fuel efficiency is expected to rise in the near future.

Manufacturers Turn Energies towards Emerging Economies

The global market for automotive gas charged shock absorbers is widely considered to be consolidated in nature, with only limited market participants holding control over major market share. Major manufacturers around the world are increasingly focusing their efforts on expanding their presence in the emerging economies around the world, particularly in South East Asia.

This trend can be attributed to the high demand for passenger vehicles in this region, especially as manufacturers have displayed increased rates of exports to developed markets on a global scale.