Driving the Future of Mobility: Superior Automotive Precision Spring Solutions
Strictly adhering to IATF 16949 standards. Delivering "Zero-Defect" quality for every rigorous challenge, from powertrains to chassis and interiors.
Industry Overview
Safety Requires Zero Compromise The automotive industry is undergoing a revolution in electrification and lightweighting. Engineers face a dual pressure: How to reduce weight to extend range while guaranteeing multi-million cycle fatigue life under all-weather conditions? At Hershey Spring, we understand the rigorous laws of the automotive supply chain. Standard springs cannot withstand the high heat of engine bays or the corrosion of chassis environments. Utilizing high-tensile oil-tempered wire from Germany and Japan, combined with Multi-Stage Shot Peening and 100% Eddy Current Testing, we effectively suppress stress corrosion and fatigue fractures. We ensure that every vehicle equipped with Hershey Springs arrives safely and smoothly.
Application Coverage
Powertrain: Valve springs, injector springs, dual-mass flywheel arc springs, turbocharger actuator springs.
Chassis & Braking: Brake caliper return springs, ABS pump springs, pedal return springs.
Body & Interior: Door lock mechanism springs, trunk gas spring components, seat adjustment springs, center console damping springs.
New Energy: Charging gun insertion/removal force springs, high-voltage battery relay springs, motor carbon brush springs.
Automotive Solutions & Customization Capabilities
HERSHEY provides specialized spring engineering and manufacturing solutions tailored to the demanding requirements of modern automotive systems. From high-fatigue performance to strict dimensional stability and corrosion resistance, our customization capabilities ensure each spring meets the performance, safety, and durability standards required in automotive applications.
Industry-Grade Materials
- Ultra-High Tensile Oil Tempered Wire
SWOSC-V / SWOSC-VH: Industry-standard materials offering high fatigue resistance, widely used in suspension systems and clutch springs.
VDSiCr (Valve Grade): A super-clean chrome-silicon alloy with extremely low impurity levels, specifically engineered for engine valves and high-frequency fuel injectors, delivering exceptional fatigue life.
- Corrosion Resistant & Interior Materials
Stainless Steel 301/302/316: Used for interior clips and wiper systems, providing a balance of corrosion resistance and elasticity.
Inconel X-750: Designed for extreme high-temperature applications such as turbochargers.
Mechanical / Product Customization Options
- Progressive Rate / Variable Pitch Design
Non-linear Stiffness: Soft initial rate for comfort that stiffens under compression for support, widely used in seats and suspension systems.
- NVH Reduction
Teflon Coating: Reduces friction noise between the spring and seat.
Chamfering & Grinding: Prevents sharp edges from cutting rubber components or generating unwanted noise.
- Non-Circular Cross Sections
Flat / Oval Wire: Provides higher load capacity within the same installation height, addressing compact space constraints.
Industry-Focused Processes
- Multi-Stage Shot Peening
High-velocity shot impacts are applied to the spring surface to induce significant compressive residual stress, increasing fatigue life by 5–10 times.
- Hot Pre-setting
Performed under load at temperatures exceeding the operating range to eliminate initial relaxation, ensuring no load loss or height reduction over the vehicle’s service life.
Durability & Reliability Enhancements
- High-Performance Corrosion Protection
Geomet / Dacromet: Coatings free from hydrogen embrittlement risk, passing 720–1000 hours of salt spray testing, compliant with OEM chassis component standards.
Epoxy Powder Coating: Provides excellent resistance to stone chips and chemical corrosion.
- Stress Corrosion Resistance
Optimized through material selection and surface treatment to prevent fracture risks in de-icing salt (brine) environments.
Quality Assurance & Certifications
Quality & Quality & Compliance
- System Standards
ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 Compliant: Strict adherence to automotive quality management systems, ensuring fully controlled processes.
- Documentation
PPAP Level 3: Complete Production Part Approval Process documentation, including control plans, FMEA, MSA, and full-dimensional reports.
IMDS Submission: Supports International Material Data System submission, meeting vehicle recycling regulatory requirements.
CPK/CMK Control: Process capability index (for critical characteristics) exceeds 1.67.
FAQ
We strictly adhere to the IATF 16949 automotive quality management system standards. While we currently hold ISO 9001 certification, we have established independent quality control processes for automotive projects. We are fully capable of supporting VDA 6.3 process audits and are committed to continuous improvement to meet the highest automotive manufacturing standards.
Absolutely. Our experienced project management team can provide a full PPAP Level 3 package (including Control Plan, PFMEA, MSA, Dimensional Reports, etc.). We also support IMDS submission to ensure your components comply with global vehicle recycling regulations.
We combine process control with final inspection sorting. During production, we monitor the CPK values (>1.33 or >1.67) of significant/critical characteristics (SC/CC) in real-time. Before shipment, we perform 100% inspection using Automated Optical Inspection (CCD) and Eddy Current Testing to automatically reject dimensional defects or surface cracks, ensuring “Zero Defect” delivery.
For high-fatigue applications, we use imported Valve Grade oil-tempered wire (e.g., VDSiCr). In processing, we utilize Multi-Stage Shot Peening to induce high compressive residual stress, combined with Hot Pre-setting. This can extend spring fatigue life to 10 million cycles or more.
To avoid hydrogen embrittlement risks associated with electroplating, we recommend Mechanical Plating or Zinc-Flake Coatings (e.g., Geomet/Dacromet). These coatings are free from hydrogen embrittlement risks and can pass 720 to 1000-hour Salt Spray Tests, providing excellent resistance against de-icing salts and mud.
We highly welcome ESI. For NVH issues, we can assist in designing Variable Rate Springs or Side-Load Optimized Springs, and offer Teflon Coating solutions to reduce friction noise. Our engineers can work with your CAD data to perform analysis, resolving potential noise issues before tooling begins.