Composites

The latest news and developments in regards to composites production and manufacturing.

Composites

We’re excited for the opportunity for our first-ever investment in Québec with a new facility that will help shape the EV ecosystem there.”

Ford partners with EcoPro BM and SK On to build cathode plant in North America bolstering EV SC in region

2023-09-01T12:00:00+01:00By Ilkhan Ozsevim

The new plant marks Ford’s first investment in the region and is part of the OEMs wider objective of localising key battery raw materials processing operations in closer proximity to its EV production hubs.

This strategic investment will further help reinforce GM’s efforts in EV batteries, accelerate our work on affordable battery chemistries like LMFP and support our efforts to build a US-focused battery supply chain

GM announces $60m Series B investment in AI-powered battery materials trailblazer Mitra Chem

2023-08-22T13:07:00+01:00By Ilkhan Ozsevim

GM and Mitra Chem will work together to develop “advanced iron-based cathode active materials (CAM), like lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP), to power affordable and accessible EV batteries compatible with GM’s EV propulsion architecture, the Ultium Platform.”

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Shaping the future – Developing electric vehicle architectures

2023-05-02T17:36:00+01:00By Michael Nash

In our AMS Evolution Livestream experts from ArcelorMittal and Gestamp tackle EV production challenges and explain how digital tools, new technologies, processes and materials innovations could help solve some key issues

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Form and function: Developing production processes and structures for electric vehicle architectures

2023-04-25T10:18:00+01:00By Nick Holt, Christopher Ludwig

The new electric vehicle architectures are also continuing to evolve as vehicle makers strive to find the optimum balance between platform flexibility, while also being viable for high-volume production. To get some insights in to this ongoing process AMS spoke with Paul Belanger, Gestamp’s R&D Director for North America

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Re-evaluating recycled materials

2023-04-05T17:10:00+01:00By James Bakewell

Carmakers are increasingly looking into ways of reducing the environmental impact of their vehicle manufacture – and one way to do this is by using more recycled materials in their cars. But how can they go about this?

Rendering of Magna Structures Heart Lake facility in Brampton

Magna to build new battery enclosures facility in Canada to support Ford F-150 Lightning production

2023-02-16T11:56:00+00:00By Rebecca Morley

The company will also manufacture battery enclosures for GM’s Silverado EV in St. Clair, Michigan, adding to existing battery enclosure production for the Hummer EV  

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Mercedes looks to chemical recycling to further develop circular manufacturing operations

2022-08-25T18:23:00+01:00By AMS

The carmaker says it is working to increase the proportion of recycled materials in its car fleet to an average of 40% by 2030

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3D printing: a step closer to mainstream production

2022-06-07T10:29:00+01:00By Mike Farish

New technologies and materials create more opportunities for additive manufacturing in automotive applications

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After tailpipes, auto industry ponders CO2 purge from its materials

2022-05-27T12:57:00+01:00By Peter Murphy

Volvo, Polestar and SSAB ponder how to wring out CO2 from materials now that the internal combustion engine’s fate is virtually sealed.

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Watch: New magic in the dark art of lightweighting

2022-05-23T10:10:00+01:00By Nick Holt

Ignacio, Jérôme and Prof. Volk explain the magic behind the art of lighweighting all whilst factoring in cost, performance, safety concerns and the impact on manufacturing process.

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Megacasting: a chance to rethink body manufacturing

2022-02-10T05:31:00+00:00By Götz Fuchslocher

The aluminium die-casting process could revolutionise body construction. Professor Wolfram Volk, the department head for forming technology and casting at the Technical University of Munich, explains the advantages and disadvantages of so-called ‘mega’- or ‘gigacasting’.

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Stress test: new modelling approach for component fatigue testing

2021-09-16T18:36:00+01:00By Nick Holt

The development of lightweight structures and components for electric vehicles has created a demand for more comprehensive and modern test-and-measurement processes to evaluate component fatigue and service life. Lucia Barbu, research professor and project coordinator at Fatigue4light gives insight into the challenges and solutions

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Cost and opportunity: experts unveil the contradictions at the core of lightweighting EVs

2021-08-09T16:10:00+01:00By Jason Dunn

Lightweighting has become one of the most important features when it comes to designing EVs. As calls for more sustainable production practices become louder, creators are looking at new innovative ways to lighten the load.

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Thinking outside the box: lightweight battery enclosures

2021-07-27T09:47:00+01:00By Mike Farish

The lightweighting of electric vehicle (EV) structures is a key element in helping to extend the endurance ranges necessary to accelerate their increasing adoption. A specific target for weight reduction is the compartment used to house the batteries

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Advanced polymers: Reinforcing metal-to-metal adhesive bond strength

2021-06-28T08:46:00+01:00Sponsored by Solvay

As the automotive industry continues to focus on lightweighting for better fuel and energy efficiency of vehicles, there is an increased trend towards light metal alloys and eliminating mechanical fasteners by adhesive bonding. This has created a need for improving the reliability of metal-to-metal bonds, for which proper surface treatments are key. Solvay discusses some solutions

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Building the battery pack

2021-03-23T12:08:00+00:00By Nick Holt

While cell manufacture is still largely in the realm of specialist producers, more OEMs are now assembling the battery pack inhouse, but this can be a complex task requiring specialist tooling. Nick Holt reports

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Power is nothing without control

2021-02-08T18:44:00+00:00By Illya Verpraet

Chassis components keep the wheels from falling off the EV revolution. Illya Verpraet found out how Gestamp is managing the change with material and quality control innovation

Aluminium is a surface sensitive material, which presents a number challenges in blanking and forming operations.

Taking shape: Forming aluminium

2020-11-02T14:24:00+00:00By Nick Holt

AMS spoke to two leading press line suppliers to get some insight into process challenges and solutions for this material 

The company says this material range is suitable as substitute for metal, and engineered plastics

Polypropylene materials technology for the automotive market

2020-10-03T17:37:00+01:00By AMS

Carbon and glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene (PP) technology offers alternative to engineering plastics and metal parts

It’s claimed this technique can cut the lead time to develop such components by half, and cycle time for moulding by about 80%, compared with conventional methods

Nissan’s new process to mass-produce CFRP parts

2020-09-08T09:09:00+01:00By AMS

Nissan aims to use the new process to mass-produce CFRP parts and introduce them in more cars for customers