SEG Automotive celebrates 111 years of starter motor development and production

Since 1914, SEG Automotive has been developing and manufacturing solutions for original equipment and the aftermarket. What seems self-evident today was a groundbreaking innovation at the time: the electric starter motor.

111 years of innovation: SEG Automotive celebrates over a century of starter motor development and production since the electric starter motor went into series production in 1914.
Technological development: From the first sliding-armature to modern start/stop, starter motor technology has continued to develop.
Modern requirements: Today's starter motors are highly specialized and adapted to different vehicle types and installation situations.
Aftermarket requirements: Custom-fit starter motors with exact vehicle assignments via databases such as TecDoc are important for workshops and repair shops.
Sustainability through remanufacturing: Remanufactured starter motors are technically as good as new, resource-saving and cost-effective.
Variety of spare parts: In addition to complete starter motors, individual components such as carbon brush holders or solenoid are also available – for cost-effective repairs.

From the past...

111 years ago, the electric starter motor meant a revolution in vehicle technology. Before its introduction, vehicles had to be laboriously started by hand crank – a procedure that often led to injuries. Accordingly, the electric starter motor not only meant more comfort, but also a significant increase in safety.

The first starter motor was a so-called sliding-armature starter motor: a system in which the armature, shaft and pinion moved together towards the engine flywheel to start the engine. This mechanism was activated via a bulky foot switch in the driver's cab. In the decades that followed, the starter mechanism was constantly refined. The introduction of coaxial-screws, solenoids and engagement levers greatly simplified the engagement mechanism – it was no longer necessary to move the entire inner workings of the starter. Freewheel bearings ensured that the starter motor was not over-revved after the engine was started, which significantly increased its service life.

In the 1980s, permanent magnets and planetary gears found their way into starter technology. As a result, size and weight could be significantly reduced – while maintaining or even increasing performance.

… into the present

With the beginning of the new millennium, the era of start/stop starter motors finally began. Thanks to improved materials and reinforced construction, it was now possible to start the engine not only at the beginning of a ride. Rather, the engine has since stopped at every stop, for example at traffic lights or in stop-and-go traffic, or even at constant speed on the highway (coasting). A step on the accelerator pedal then automatically restarts it. Since 2007, the technology has thus made an important contribution to fuel savings and CO₂ reduction in road traffic at SEG Automotive.

Today, suitable conventional and start/stop starter motors are available for all vehicles with combustion engines – from compact city vehicles to vans and heavy commercial vehicles to agricultural and construction machinery. This wide range of applications comes with an enormous variety of variants. Each starter motor is precisely tailored to the specific requirements of its operating environment to ensure maximum reliability and performance.

A central criterion, for example, is the installation position of the starter motor. While in a passenger car the current path from the battery in the engine compartment is often only a few centimeters, in buses or construction machinery it can be several meters long – which places special demands on the electrical design.

But even in the field of passenger cars, there are considerable differences. Depending on the installation location, special sealing or heating concepts must be developed to protect the starter motor from dust, moisture or extreme temperatures.

This high degree of adaptability is only possible through state-of-the-art development and manufacturing technologies in original equipment.

Starter motors for the automotive aftermarket

The enormous variety of variants of today's vehicles is also reflected in the aftermarket. In order for workshops to work reliably, spare parts must fit exactly – both technically and in their installation situation.

To ensure the correct allocation, comprehensive databases such as TecDoc are essential. Manufacturers of starters and other spare parts provide precise information here so that workshops can find the right starter motors quickly and reliably – and complaints due to incorrect applications are avoided.

For repairs in line with current value, remanufacturing is a good addition. At the supplier SEG Automotive, starter motors are remanufactured according to strict quality standards at the Miskolc plant (Hungary) using automated series processes. These are technically equivalent to a new product, but more resource-saving and cost-effective due to the reuse of materials.

In addition, starter motor spare parts such as brush holders, armatures or solenoids are also available in the aftermarket. This allows targeted repairs to be carried out where a new part is no longer worthwhile for economic reasons.

Whether remanufacturing or replacing individual components – both approaches extend the service life of the starter motor and thus make their contribution to the circular economy.

Further information on the starter motor anniversary

SEG Automotive is celebrating the upcoming anniversary on the company's online and social media channels until June 13 with lots of additional information and promotions about the starter motor.