The prime focus of the division's many and varied activities, which include glass processing equipment, systems for the production of chassis and body in white components as well as forming tools, is placed on integrated lightweight construction using high-strength materials. In addition, BENTELER-SGL, a joint venture between BENTELER Automotive and the SGL Group, develops and produces components made from carbon-fiber reinforced composites for the automotive industry. The division's activities are neatly rounded off by the BENTELER Defense business unit, which – with its robust solutions –specializes in personal protection in civilian and military vehicles.
BENTELER Automotive uses SAP as its central PDM system with direct integration facilities to the CAD systems CATIA V5, Siemens NX and PTC Creo. Using the SAP CAD Desktop, users control not only the transfer of the BOMs and the creation of project records but also print output, 2D/3D conversion and data exchange with external partners. Project records created in SAP 4PEP form the backbone of the product engineering process; they connect engineering BOMs (eBOM), variant management, document management, the change process and baselining. Previously, however, the BOM could only be viewed in 2D.