The Garage 266 Binder

ANALYSIS 22
Catalytic
Converter s:
Deconstructed
A
BUSINESS shaped
into a catalytic converter
manufacturer,
when demand
for the product
surged around 20 years ago,
BM Catalysts’ manufacturing
capabilities and expertise
have come a long way since
hand-bending their first
units in the late ‘90s. Nowadays,
the technical specifications,
production processes
and sheer knowledge the
company administers when
developing such products
are industry-leading and
keep them one step ahead of
the competition. Here we deconstruct
each section of the
product to take a look at just
what goes into producing a
BM Catalysts catalyst.
A catalytic converter (cat)
is an emissions control device
that works to reduce the
level of harmful exhaust gasses
that are released, from
a vehicle, into the atmosphere.
In the UK, it is a legal
requirement for vehicles
to be fitted with a cat as part
of Euro Emissions standards,
aimed at improving
air quality. The more recent
type approval legislation
(introduced in 2009) states
that vehicles registered after
March 2001 must be fitted
with a homologated (type
approved) cat, which meet
more stringent emissions
levels.
Located after the engine, a
cat works by converting toxic
gasses into less harmful
ones as they pass through
the unit. Catalytic converters
contain a precious metal
coating, which sparks
a chemical reaction as the
gasses pass through. The
detrimental elements; hydrocarbons,
carbon monoxide
and nitrogen oxides, are
converted into less harmful
ones; water, carbon dioxide
and nitrogen, therefore reducing
the impact emissions
cause to the environment.
A cat is assembled from
a number of different components
and materials. Over
90% of the components in
BM Catalysts products are
produced in-house, allowing
full traceability and control
over the manufactured products,
and therefore ensuring
consistency in output.
There are two key elements
of a catalyst that depict the
vehicle in which they fit: the
catalyst section – containing
the monolith, matting and
can – and the fitment section
– containing the pipework,
end cones, manifold
and fittings.
BM Catalysts’ monoliths
are ceramic, and are coated
with a combination of precious
metals that produce
the chemical reaction to
convert harmful gasses into
less harmful ones, when the
catalyst is at operating temperature
(around 300 C).
The precious metals in the
coating are made up of a
combination of platinum,
palladium and rhodium.
They come in a range of precious
metal combinations,
shapes, lengths and diameters;
all dependent on the
vehicle fitment requirement.
Also included in the range
at BM Catalysts are 200,
400 and 600 CPSI (cells
per square inch). 409 grade
stainless steel is used to
create the outer can (due to
its strength endurance and
corrosion resistance) which
contains the monolith and
matting. The matting acts
as a support between the inner
and outer components.
There are a variety of differ-
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