Casting/Forging News
Watch: Structural change – Developing vehicle architectures optimised for EV manufacturing
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.
Form and function: Developing production processes and structures for electric vehicle architectures
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
Special series: Digitalising manufacturing engineering at Audi
Jörg Spindler is leading Audi’s push to virtualise production planning, ramp up battery production and use data to reduce emissions and improve productivity in areas like toolmaking and body shop
Tools for progress: real-time tracking and monitoring in Audi’s toolmaking
The carmaker’s Toolmaking 4.0 system is bringing greater visibility of suppliers and potential disruption of machines and operations at tool shops, with high productivity gains.
Stellantis to localise production of new electric drive module in Indiana
Investments to be made at Indiana Transmission, Kokomo Transmission and Kokomo Casting Plants, with the company investing a total of $155m
Dacia – building on a successful formula
Speaking to AMS, Carlos Carrinho, General Manager Dacia Vehicle plant Mioveni, discusses the factory’s unique position within the realm of European car manufacturing and how it has been continuously developing to meet future production challenges
GM invests $918m in four US powertrain production facilities
Investment will prepare four GM plants for production of 6th generation small block V8 and EV components
Material matters: body, forming and process transformation
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.
Watch: Are all OEMs start-up manufacturers now?
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.
Watch: The AI/data loop leading the digital revolution
Tomorrow’s digital smart factories will be more efficent, improve quality, cut costs and unlock insights into deeper automotive manufacturing say this panel of experts from BMW, Secondmind, ATS Global and Lancaster University.
Watch: New magic in the dark art of lightweighting
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.
BMW Landshut is now using new multi-plate die casting technology
The light metal foundry at the BMW components plant in Landshut is using multi-plate die casting technology, which offers function-optimised component design and design of the required sprue positions and flow paths
BMW to invest $200m in new South Carolina press shop
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.
Megacasting: a chance to rethink body manufacturing
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’.
BMW expands sources of low-carbon steel to advance 2030 sustainability goals
The BMW Group has signed a corresponding agreement with Salzgitter AG to deliver low-carbon steel.
The die is cast for Volvo’s future EV production
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.
Novelis invests in aluminium recycling to meet automotive demand
Novelis is investing $365m to construct an advanced aluminium recycling centre for the automotive industry in North America. The new recycling facility will be built adjacent to Novelis’ existing automotive finishing plant in Guthrie, Kentucky.
Watch: Shopfloor revolution – how data, software and AI are rebooting production
OEMs and suppliers are transforming vehicle production through data and connectivity as much as hardware, with new artificial intelligence opportunities emerging. Watch this AMS Livestream Hour featuring VDMA, Fraunhofer IPA and Symbio to hear about the standards, systems and applications underpinning these changes.
Aluminium applications
Electric vehicles battery enclosures are increasing overall vehicle weight, with lightweight materials for structural components, such as castings, can offset the rise. Rio Tinto’s Jerome Fourmann tells Nick Holt about new opportunities and production innovations
Volvo Trucks buys Chinese manufacturing site to expand heavy duty truck manufacturing
As part of the company’s broader plans to develop global reach, Volvo has acquired JMC Heavy Duty Vehicle to produce and sell more heavy-duty trucks in China.
