Lightweighting

The latest news and developments in lightweighting in automotive materials and production.

Composites

Novelis’ aluminium battery enclosure solutions as seen in-vehicle

The evolution of EV battery enclosures: balancing optimisation, safety and cost-effectiveness

2023-08-16T15:51:00+01:00By Martin Kahl

The battery enclosures used in the first wave of EVs to hit the market after 2010 were designed to be sealed firmly shut. This took to an extreme the need to be impenetrable, crash proof, fireproof, waterproof and tamper-proof and resulted in mostly irreparable batteries and recycling processes that frequently require people in protective clothing using crow bars to prise open the enclosures protecting these very heavy, high-voltage machines. But technologies and production strategies are fast-evolving.

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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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Watch: Structural change – Developing vehicle architectures optimised for EV manufacturing

2023-04-25T17:00:00+01:00

Hear expert insights into the development and production of high volume electric vehicle architectures, and how these are driving innovation in manufacturing processes and efficiencies, featuring Gestamp’s North America R&D director Paul Belanger and ArcelorMittal head of automotive steel solutions Jérôme Favero.

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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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Multi part integrated BIW solutions and advanced steel grades support EV production

2023-01-10T10:18:00+00:00By ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal Global R&D Head of Automotive Steel Solutions, Jérôme Favero discusses how the company’s Multi Part Integration solution is an innovation that has been driven by the challenging context of Battery Electric Vehicle production

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Material matters: body, forming and process transformation

2022-12-09T12:00:00+00:00By Christopher Ludwig

Teknia, ArcelorMittal and SSAB joined the seventh panel at Automotive Evolution Europe to discuss how new technology and materials are ushering in new innovations in manufacturing.

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​Henkel Adhesives grips tight to growth through EV battery innovation

2022-12-02T12:47:00+00:00By Peter Murphy

With a focus on research, Henkel has joined automakers and battery producers in the pursuit of better EVs through hard-won scientific advances.

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Watch: Next-gen car body building

2022-10-11T17:02:00+01:00By AMS

Innovations in vehicle body and module architectures are enabling more sustainable production. Experts from REE Automotive, Magswitch and others discuss opportunities in the next AMS Livestream.

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Stronger, lighter – creating a tailored steel grade

2022-10-04T09:09:00+01:00By SSAB

SSAB and Gestamp collaborated to developed a new chassis grade steel for lightweight suspension parts

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Watch: Are all OEMs start-up manufacturers now?

2022-07-28T11:18:00+01:00By AMS

In this livestream, learn how OEM start-ups can short time to market in manufacturing and re-engineer body structures, featuring the head of manufacturing at Volta Trucks and ArcelorMittal.

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Battery Electric Vehicles – steel applications for the B-segment

2022-07-05T07:07:00+01:00By ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal says with the B-segment looking to to be a mass market car for the EV market, an affordable, sustainable architecture is a fundamental requirement

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What wireless battery management systems mean for sustainable EV manufacturing

2022-03-10T10:54:00+00:00By Jason Dunn

As the demand for EVs rises and OEMs rapidly roll out units, battery component manufacturers are looking to develop vital electrification ecosystems. A factor that is increasingly central to the manufacturing of EVs is a battery framework that simplifies the production process for new sustainable models.

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BMW to invest $200m in new South Carolina press shop

2022-03-07T14:31:00+00:00By Jason Dunn

US BMW manufacturing CEO Dr Robert Engelhorn announced that the company would invest more than $200m to build a 219,000 sq. ft press shop at its South Carolina plant.

AMS Evolution Summit 2022

AMS EVolution summit returns with fresh new format and guest speakers

2022-02-17T22:57:00+00:00By AMS

The Automotive Manufacturing Solutions EVolution Summit returns this spring from 17th - 19th May with a brand-new format and with a mission to provide unique and exclusive insight into the world of automotive production.

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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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Volvo investing $1.1 billion in Gothenburg site to support huge electrification push

2022-02-08T14:06:00+00:00By Jason Dunn

In the coming years, Volvo Cars will be investing SEK 10 billion ($1.1 billion) into its manufacturing plant in the Torslanda province of Gothenburg, Sweden, as preparation for the production of the next generation of fully electric cars.

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The die is cast for Volvo’s future EV production

2022-02-08T09:13:00+00:00By Nick Holt, Christopher Ludwig

One of the key pillars of Volvo’s investment in electric vehicles will be the application of aluminium megacasting to produce large structural parts. Mikael Fermér, solution architect for vehicle platforms at Volvo Cars, explains the significance of this change for EV production.

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Automated sealing & sound deadening: Achieving an efficient application

2021-12-15T16:10:00+00:00By Sames Kremlin

OEMs are moving towards fully automated paintshop, and this will include robotic application of sealant and protecting solution to the car body. The application of sealant and sound deadener presents a challenge to balance lightweight and protection of the body. SAMES KREMLIN presents a solution for efficient dispensing with a high-performance applicator and dosing unit

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Multi Part Integration: Optimising vehicle structures

2021-12-14T11:39:00+00:00By ArcelorMittal

Reducing materials use and vehicle weight are key considerations for OEMs. ArcelorMittal discusses its new Multi Part Integration concept and how this can simplify the vehicle production process

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Heavy-duty lightweighting

2021-10-25T17:22:00+01:00By SSAB

The heavy-duty, commercial vehicle sector faces the same challenges in terms of reducing its environmental footprint and is similarly developing alternative fuel vehicles. SSAB discusses how truck OEMs can leverage the car maker’s lightweighting lessons