Materials Innovation and Lightweighting – Page 7
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ArticleChemical composition
The greater use of mixed materials in vehicle construction has required changes to the pretreatment processThe initial treatment that a bare metal car body receives is fundamental to achieving the key performance parameters of all subsequent coating and painting operations, most obviously corrosion protection and paint adhesion. For many decades, ...
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ArticleStill going strong
As November marks the 40th anniversary of the original press-hardened steel patent, AMS takes a look at how the technology has evolved and where it is heading next in an era of mixed-material vehicle productionThe overriding merit of press-hardened steel (PHS) has always been the unique combination of formability, ultra ...
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ArticleOff the grid
By convention, single-seater cars are machines for the racing circuit but one family business is striving to create and manufacture the exceptionSingle seater cars are usually machines for the race track only but there can be exceptions. One of them is the BAC Mono, made by small UK company Briggs ...
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ArticleMaster piecers
AMS reports on the techniques used in the typically bespoke but ever larger-scale production of blanksIn itself, the term ‘blanking’ denotes something fairly straightforward and unexceptional – creating flat shapes out of sheet metal that may then be subjected to some further process such as bending. But companies wanting to ...
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ArticleWilliams unveils lightweight EV platform
UK – The FW-EVX concept features innovations in the battery pack, cooling systems and lightweight structures which are integrated into a scalable platform, says the company. A near zero-waste process and the forming of high-strength 3D structures from 2D materials are used for parts of its construction.The near zero-waste process, ...
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WebinarArcelorMittal webinar: Efficient Lightweighting with new press hardnable steels
ArcelorMittal – A new generation of high-strength, press hardenable steel (PHS) grades are coming to the automotive market. As well bringing significant weight savings in vehicle structures, particularly on crash applications, the new PHS grades enable OEMs to create parts with more complex geometries. In this webinar, we explore ...
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ArticleOpen-door opportunity
Much R&D work has been done to reduce the weight of vehicle structures, but closures still represent a significant opportunity for weight savingsClosures are mounted after body assembly and can be built up off-line, meaning that they can be made of entirely different materials, such as aluminium, to the vehicle’s ...
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ArticleGestamp opens seventh plant in Brazil
Brazil – The Spanish company has invested €24.9m to set up a new hot stamping plant in Betim (Minas Gerais, Brazil), that will serve Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA), supplying parts for the Fiat Palio and Siena models. The new plant, which will also be equipped with laser cutting and assembly ...
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ArticleUnder the spotlight
With current demand for lightweighting so voracious, there are many applications in which OEMs are looking to spot weld mixed-material assemblies Trumpf's I-PFO is suited to the laser welding of doors, seats, sun roofs and other large body partsWith high thermal and electrical conductivity plus the very high electrical resistance ...
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ArticleTailor-made
With a total throughput capacity of 750,000 tonnes of metal per year, it is no surprise to discover the automotive industry is a major customer of the Tata SteelparkThe Tata Steelpark near Wolverhampton, UK, is one of the major steel processing sites in Europe. Inbound, coiled steel from the company’s ...
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ArticleIt's time to get personal
The advent of 3D printing has set the industry’s imagination racing with regard to how far this innovative technology could actually push technological boundaries, particularly concerning personalisation. We all love choosing the colour scheme, upholstery, wheels and trims for our new cars, so how great would it be if your ...
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ArticleOperation and cooperation
The working relationship between design and manufacturing departments can optimise processes, reduce costs and make the most of the best ideasGenuine leather, synthetic leather, thermoplastic polyolefins and slush skins have become standard surface materials in cockpit production. These various surface concepts usually call for multiple-stage production processes, requiring specific tools. ...
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Article
Aluminium with form
New forming processes will further unlock the potential of aluminium as lightweight material for automotive structuresProduction operations have started with a new technique that promises major increases in the benefits that can be obtained through lightweighting using aluminium in vehicle body structures.Impression Technologies (ITL) was set up a little over ...
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ArticleAluminium with form
New forming processes will further unlock the potential of aluminium as lightweight material for automotive structuresProduction operations have started with a new technique that promises major increases in the benefits that can be obtained through lightweighting using aluminium in vehicle body structures.Impression Technologies (ITL) was set up a little over ...
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ArticleGW’s cylinder-block process for JLR
UK – In collaboration with the OEM and the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), casting specialist Grainger & Worrall is working on a type of cylinder block with plasma coatings to reduce the size and weight of engines. The production process involves spraying an aluminum block with a low-friction, plasma metal ...
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ArticleFord looks to agave plants for bioplastics
US – In a collaboration with the Jose Cuervo Tequila brand, Ford is testing the durability and heat resistance of agave fibre by-product for use in vehicle interior and exterior components including wiring harnesses, storage bins and heating, ventilation and air conditioning units. According to the OEM, initial assessments suggest ...
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ArticleKeeping finishes up to scratch
As vehicle-makers add more innovative materials in body construction and change their production processes to meet new environmental regulations, paint suppliers are striving to match their requirementsThe majority of consumers take them for granted, but exterior coatings have to cover a lot of ground. Ray Schappert, global director of product ...
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ArticleLightweight polymer A/C conveyance system
Eaton has developed new Polymer Air Conditioning Conveyance System (PACCS) lines, which it claims are a lighter-weight alternative to traditional aluminium tubing or rubber lines.The company says the PACCS lines are up to 50% lighter than traditional air conditioning lines, provide improved gas tightness, and are 90% recyclable at end ...
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ArticleInterview: Klemens Bartmann, Axalta
As the coatings company turns 150 years old, its global technology director reflects on the sector’s trends, challenges and opportunities – including new materials, environmental concerns and multi-functionality Klemens Bartmann, Axalta Coating SystemsJoanne Perry (JP): Can you briefly outline the differences in requirements between coatings for light vehicles and those ...
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Article
Cast learners
Academic research into casting is helping OEMs and suppliers bridge a knowledge gap Almost every piece of metal used in the manufacture of an automobile will have gone through a casting process at some point previously – whether to shape through a technique such as sand-casting or simply as a ...