Yamaha Motor Achieves Production of One Millionth Yamaha Performance Damper — Anti-Vibration Device for Automobiles Controls and Absorbs Distortions and Vibrations —

November 1, 2016

IWATA, November 1, 2016—Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (Tokyo: 7272) announced that it has today achieved production of its one millionth “Yamaha Performance Damper” anti-vibration damper for automobiles since manufacturing began in 2004. A ceremony to mark this milestone was held at the Numazu Factory of Yamaha Motor Hydraulic System Co., Ltd., a subsidiary manufacturing products such as shock absorbers, whose headquarters is in Morimachi, Shūchi, Shizuoka.

The Yamaha Performance Damper is a chassis damping component that is installed in the main structural areas of vehicles. It is a device designed to control and absorb minute distortions and vibrations. The Performance Damper was first used in a mass-production model in April 2004, four years on from its basic concept development in 2000. Since then, the Performance Damper has been contributing to improvements in stability and comfort in a wide variety of vehicle types.

Moreover, it has received numerous awards. In 2005, it was chosen for the “Chairman’s Award” at the “3rd New Machinery Promotion Awards,” hosted by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Machine Industry. In 2006, it received the “Technological Development Award” at the “56th JSAE Awards,” hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan. In 2008, it was selected for the 40th “Ichimura Prize in Industry for Distinguished Achievement,” hosted by the New Technology Development Foundation.

Features of the Yamaha Performance Damper

Normally, when a passenger vehicle is in motion, micro distortions of less than 1mm occur in the body. A metal vehicle body has elastic characteristics and lacks damping force, meaning that external distortion energy is accumulated and released almost unchanged, repeating the cycle of distortion at a natural frequency.
The Yamaha Performance Damper adds a damping element to the chassis, thereby absorbing the distortion energy and releasing it as heat. Along with the expectation of curbing an excessive rate of distortion on the chassis, providing greater mobility and stability at high speeds as well as superior maneuverability when the chassis is subjected to relatively high chassis distortion, the Yamaha Performance Damper also contributes to greater comfort.
The Yamaha Performance Damper is a patented product of Yamaha Motor, and “Performance Damper” is a registered trademark. For details such as videos relating to the Performance Damper, please visit http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/pd/