Composites
After tailpipes, auto industry ponders CO2 purge from its materials
Volvo, Polestar and SSAB ponder how to wring out CO2 from materials now that the internal combustion engine’s fate is virtually sealed.
Polypropylene materials technology for the automotive market
Carbon and glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene (PP) technology offers alternative to engineering plastics and metal parts
Nissan’s new process to mass-produce CFRP parts
Nissan aims to use the new process to mass-produce CFRP parts and introduce them in more cars for customers
Composite case study: curved rear bumper beam of the Corvette Stingray
Performance vehicle structures have long made extensive use of composite materials and the new generation of GM’s flagship sportscar, the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, continues the push. A key composite component of the new Corvette Stingray is a curved carbon fibre rear bumper beam, created through a bespoke application of radius pultrusion…
Suppliers will face squeeze as OEMs push to meet EU CO2 targets
As carmakers strive to reach the more stringent CO2 emissions targets being phased in across the EU next year, we predict that many are likely to put more pressure on their supply base to help reduce emissions
Carbon composite footprint
EV development has made lightweighting vehicle structures a priority. James Bakewell reports on the increased role for carbon fibre-reinforced plastics
Röchling Automotive opens new Slovakia plant
Slovakia - The new plant will be used to make a variety of different components for Daimler, JLR and PSA.
Suppliers partner to enable high-volume 3D printing
Germany - Covestro and Carbon are hoping to make 3D printing applicable for mass volume applications
A blaze in Bavaria
The foundations have been laid at BMW’s Dingolfing plant to make more electrified models and components, but more is yet to come. Michael Nash reports
GKN opens 3D printing customer centre
US - GKN Powder Metallurgy has opened its new headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The 38,260sq.ft facility also includes an additive manufacturing customer centre.
Customising production
James Bakewell reports on BMW’s growing use of additively produced parts in both vehicle personalising and series production applications
A high-performance build
The Audi R8 series of sports cars is described as being closer to motor racing than any other on-the-road vehicles. Mike Farish takes a closer look at the manufacturing operation
A focus on fibres
Lightweight, high-strength benefits are being offset by materials and process costs. James Bakewell looks at the challenges of making carbon fibre cost effective
Sticking together
The use of a wide variety of materials throws-up significant production challenges and chief among those is joining. How can this plethora of materials be fixed together without affecting their structural integrity or their individual characteristics?
Alpine scales new heights
One of the most interesting plant revivals in the last 12 months has been Renault’s overhaul of its factory in Dieppe, which now builds the A110 sports car. Nick Gibbs reports
Grid reference
Mike Farish visits Williams Advanced Engineering to see how the company delivers a distinctive F1 take on an innovative electric vehicle platform
Making metal add up
Additively manufactured metal parts present a challenge for high-volume production but at the other end of the scale, engineers are successfully developing the process for specialist, low volume parts. Mike Farish reports
Waste not…
Karen McCandless reports on vehicle-maker recycling projects ranging from plastic bottles to electric vehicle batteries