Purflux synonymous with OE performance
Europe’s leading filter makers, Sogefi – home of the Purflux aftermarket brand – has led a wide range of innovations that make its OE quality oil, air, fuel and cabin air filters amongst the most efficient in the world, according to distributors of Purflux, the Top Part Group.
Today’s combustion engines are designed to deliver levels of efficiency, performance and economy unimaginable just two decades ago; often in a smaller engine compartment. To meet the precise requirements of each engine design, Sogefi was the first to manufacture vehicle filters featuring the unique media pleating technology known as ‘Chevron’ pleating. If you come across such a pleated filter, it will be Sogefi-made.
Named after its distinctive, zig-zag fold pattern, the patented technique features specially pleated layers of very fine filter media placed around a central axis inside a cylinder. These Chevron folds enable the filter to maintain its mechanical strength whilst offering up to 20 per cent more filtration surface compared to standard, straight pleating.
Delivering outstanding filtration performance, some Chevron pleated filters can remove particles as small as 4µm. This ensures reliable performance throughout the engine’s lifetime and provides effective turbocharger protection. Chevron filters are robust enough to perform in the stringent environment of high performance engines; with some designed to withstand oil flow rates of up to 60 litres per minute and temperatures as high as 155°C. Their compact size takes up less space in the crowded engine bay, whilst delivering the same performance as larger standard units.
Because Sogefi’s Chevron filters are lightweight and built with fewer metallic parts, they are also better for the environment and leave less material to recycle.
Diesel engines are extremely sensitive to contamination. A dirt particle can damage the fuel system irreparably, from the pump right through to the injector, and the smallest water droplets can cause expensive damage.
Sogefi’s exclusive Diesel3Tech™ technology has set new standards in OE and aftermarket diesel filtration performance, guaranteeing ultimate water separation efficiency and extending both service life and replacement intervals.
The technology was developed to meet the challenges posed by new diesel fuels based on ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD), and first generation bio-diesel fuels made from vegetal and animal oils. These new fuels contain larger amounts of emulsified water, with smaller water droplet sizes and increased emulsion stability that defeat conventional fuel-water separators, increasing the risk of damage to high-pressure injection systems.
Diesel3Tech™ addresses this by combining three, high performance filtration materials in a single filter element. The first two layers, which prevent particles from entering the fuel, achieve up to 95% filtration for particles down to 4μm. The third layer, made from hydrophobic (water repelling) plastic mesh, guarantees removal of up to 99% of contaminating water, irrespective of water droplet size.
As a result Diesel3TechTM suits all European diesel blends containing up to 30% biodiesel and meets the demands of leading car manufacturers worldwide; with best-in-market filtration performance. This in turn means longer intervals between filter services as standard.
Beyond products, Sogefi has also explored new packaging and labelling ideas that will reduce environmental impact and aid logistics. In 2013 it introduced transparent packaging, to aid part identification. The aim was to find a strong, flexible, lightweight material that could be completely sealed to offer full protection from dust, humidity and damage – all major risks to cabin air filters.
The packaging also had to be efficient to produce and transport, convenient to use and store, transparent for easier identification, and eco-friendly.
Inspired by food wrappings, Sogefi developed and customer tested a 100% recyclable, transparent polypropylene packet, hermetically sealed for total filter protection. The new packs are smaller and lighter than cardboard boxes, optimising transportation and giving customers up to 15 percent more storage space. The transparent wrapping also means quicker handling and fewer returns, because the content is immediately visible.
New recyclable labels were also introduced in 2014; and the company has further improved the labelling to provide even clearer information on the vehicle makes and models to which each part applies.
Last year it was announced that Sogefi was to be the exclusive provider of the original oil filters (amongst other types of components) for Peugeot’s advanced Euro 6 compliant, 2L Blue HDi DW10F engine series.
The oil filter module is part of a novel, auto-adaptive oil maintenance system that optimises filtration performance – highly significant for the aftermarket because it monitors deterioration in the quality of the engine oil. The harder a vehicle is driven, the more frequently the oil and filter need to be changed. The module ensures continued optimal engine performance and prolonged engine life by alerting the driver to when such changes are necessary.
The oil filter devised by Sogefi employs a high technology filtration media, made of cellulosic and synthetic PE fibres, pleated to Sogefi’s exclusive ‘Chevron’ design. This delivers all the superior efficiency, compact design, temperature and oil flow advantages previously described.
The Purflux range of aftermarket filters are available at Top Part branches countrywide.