Gasgoo Munich- HORSE Powertrain has begun production at a new engine cylinder-head foundry at its Curitiba manufacturing site in Brazil, according to the company's announcement. The facility represents an investment of about €35 million and has annual capacity for 210,000 aluminum cylinder heads for the HORSE H10 and H13 engines.
Image source: HORSE Powertrain
Key Takeaways
·The foundry will supply aluminum cylinder heads for the 1.0-liter HORSE H10 and 1.3-liter HORSE H13 turbocharged gasoline-ethanol flex-fuel engines.
·The facility marks HORSE Powertrain's first use of gravity casting across its global operations, alongside low-pressure and high-pressure die-casting processes already used in Curitiba.
·HORSE Powertrain said gravity casting reduces the embodied carbon emissions of each cylinder head by 35% compared with its existing die-casting processes.
·The foundry investment was first announced in September 2024 alongside a separate BRL 100 million investment to expand HORSE H13 engine capacity at the Curitiba plant.
Image source: HORSE Powertrain
Production and technology
The two engines primarily serve passenger-vehicle markets in Brazil and elsewhere in South America. Both use a triangular cylinder-head design that HORSE Powertrain said helps reduce engine weight, lower the center of gravity and improve thermal management. Local production is intended to strengthen the supply chain and shorten response times for regional automakers.
Unlike pressure-based casting processes, gravity casting uses the natural downward flow of molten aluminum to fill the mold. According to the company, this produces a steadier flow, more even material distribution and fewer porosity defects, improving cylinder-head strength and durability.
The Curitiba team also developed an integrated aluminum melting and transfer process extending from the furnace to the mold. HORSE Powertrain said the process reduces heat and metal losses during casting while extending mold life.
Background
Brazil is an important South American production base for HORSE Powertrain, with the Curitiba plant manufacturing gasoline-ethanol flex-fuel powertrains for the regional market. The new foundry expands the company's manufacturing operations in the country.
HORSE Powertrain CEO Matias Giannini said the company would use the facility to manufacture key components locally in line with the requirements of regional automakers.
The Curitiba plant has committed to using 98% recycled aluminum and has received zero-waste-to-landfill certification.
