ZOOM ON EVENTS
Lightweight Construction Will Continue to Pose the Greatest Challenge for the Automotive Industry in Future
L
ow-weight vehicles score points
By collaborating even more closely in future,
Process and material innovations
with CO2 reduction, vehicle
aluminium producers, processors and
are drivers for lightweight
dynamics and with comfort. This
vehicle manufacturers can unlock further
construction solutions
benefits aluminium as being one of the
potential for the use of aluminium here.
As the competition amongst materials
most important lightweight construction
The figures offer an impressive reflection of
intensifies, car manufacturers and
materials in the automotive sector. New
this trend. The average aluminium content
aluminium suppliers have begun working
solutions and applications in aluminium-
of cars is steadily increasing. Whereas 60
together more closely. By investing
based materials are seeing increased
years ago an average vehicle contained 19
in application-oriented research and
demand. This is also shown by the trade
kilograms of aluminium, between 1990 and
development, the aluminium industry
fair ALUMINIUM 2018 held in DĂźsseldorf
2014 the aluminium content of an average
has succeeded in continually improving
from 9 to 11 October.
car nearly tripled, increasing from 50 kg to
the properties of its materials, developing
Aluminium has transformed the automotive
140 kg. This figure is projected to increase
new products and optimising production
industry, and it will continue to do so in
to between 160 and 180 kg by 2020 as
processes. Process and material
future. It offers a better cost-benefit ratio
small and mid-size cars follow the trend set
innovations drive the development of
than any of the substitute materials on offer.
by luxury cars in the use of aluminium.
efficient lightweight construction solutions Š Aluminium Messe
and their implementation in series production, as with energy-saving components for chassis, engines, transmissions and gearboxes. New joining techniques drive the use of aluminium The use of aluminium in automotive manufacturing is also being driven by new joining technologies. Improved soldering methods, for example, have resulted in a situation where nearly all heat exchangers for automotive air conditioning systems and radiators are now made of aluminium. Innovative
1
welding processes and
Figure 1: ALUMINIUM 2018 will be held in DĂźsseldorf from 9 to 11 October, 2018.
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N. 52 - JULY/AUGUST 2018 - international PAINT&COATING magazine
bonding technologies make