Casting Study: Shift lever automatic transmission base lever

The award-winning cast part in the automotive category is a basic lever for the shift lever of an automatic transmission in a car. The gearshift knob is in the constant field of vision of the driver and the vehicle occupants, which places very high demands on the surface quality of the visible surfaces and on a high-quality feel. The use of zinc die-cast compared to commonly used plastic parts when used as a gear lever and also generally in the interior area has a much higher value – the zinc die-cast part looks cool, resilient and heavy, although it is very light at 150 grams. The overall shape of the gearshift lever makes it easy to hold and impresses with its high-quality feel. The jury was particularly impressed by the mold making solution. Since the shift lever is almost exclusively made up of visible surfaces, an intelligent solution is required for the position of the gate and the indentation. Due to the geometry of the casting, the further mechanical pre-treatment and subsequent galvanic surface treatment represent a challenge that was solved convincingly. Recessed LED lights are used to represent the gearshift lever and its visible areas in the vehicle.