Archive for March, 2016
Japan’s UACJ to Buy American Auto Framemaker
UACJ plans to acquire a U.S. aluminum automotive frame manufacturer, aiming to tap expected growth in the North American market. The Tokyo-based maker of nonferrous-metal products will purchase SRS Industries for $155 million by the end of May under a deal announced earlier this week. SRS is the No. 1 manufacturer of automotive aluminum structural […]
Alcoa Lands $50 Million Contract from U.S. Army for Lightweighting Solutions
Lightweight metals specialist Alcoa has been awarded a five-year contract from the U.S. Army worth up to $50 million for R&D projects focused on developing innovative, lightweighting solutions for ground combat vehicles. The U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) awarded Alcoa Defense a “Ground Vehicle Light-Weighting” contract to support efforts to […]
Dow Automotive Develops New Adhesive for Lightweight Vehicle Construction
“Betaforce composite bonding adhesives enable the joining of lightweight materials, which helps automotive manufacturers achieve many different goals, including better fuel economy and lower carbon dioxide emissions,” says Ana Wagner, global marketing manager for Dow Automotive Systems. Wagner says Dow’s Betaforce composite bonding adhesive is designed for multi-material vehicles. Audi and its sister brand […]
Big Growth Opportunities for Automotive Silicones in Lightweighting Applications
As environmental agencies have enforced standards that demand greater lightweighting and fuel efficiency, the automotive industry has increasingly turned to silicone elastomers. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, 360 Degree Analysis of the Silicones Market for the Automotive Industry, finds that the market earned revenues of $2.59 billion in 2015 and estimates them to reach […]
Italian Manufacturer Eldor Corporation Bringing
350 Jobs to Virginia
BOTETOURT CO., Va. – Eldor Corporation, an Italian automotive manufacturer, will invest $75 million to build a production plant in Botetourt County, bringing 350 new jobs over the next five years, according to Gov. McAuliffe’s office. It’s the largest announcement for jobs and economic investment in the history of Botetourt County. Eldor Corporation makes ignition systems, engine […]
Lightweight Materials Provide Opportunities for Next-Gen Rail Vehicles
The transportation industry has for a long time been engaged in the application of new lightweight materials for primary structural design. In aeronautics, where the weight of an aircraft is a crucial factor for fuel consumption, composite materials are now replacing metallic materials in both structural and non-structural parts. The railway industry could also benefit […]
Continental Structural Plastics, Mitsubishi Rayon Sign Memorandum of Understanding
Auburn Hills, Michigan — Continental Structural Plastics (CSP) announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (MRC), regarding the development and manufacturing of innovative carbon fiber structural components for the automotive industry in North America. Under the memorandum of understanding, CSP and MRC agreed to commence detailed studies through which the […]
Borealis Launches Lightweight Materials for Composite Applications
Borealis, a provider of innovative, value-creating plastics solutions, has introduced a complete polypropylene (PP) portfolio for lightweight composite applications. These new polypropylene composite-based application solutions were presented for the first time at the VDI International Conference on Plastics in Automotive Engineering which took place in Mannheim, Germany. Borealis also reports a capacity expansion of the long glass fibre […]
Lightweighting Emphasis at Recent Work Truck Show
Three new features gave attendees at the recent Work Truck Show® 2016 solid insights into the future of vocational trucks. A demo truck displayed near the Show entrance highlights the life cycle cost benefits of spec’ing trucks that weigh less and use less fuel. A bright red, life-size Shelby Cobra convertible replica on the Show floor will draw […]
Thinnest Sandcast BIW Components
With a wall thickness of just 2.5mm, sandcast components created by Coventry-based Sarginsons Industries could play a major role in automotive lightweighting. The company has produced the prototype body in white (BIW) parts for one of the UK’s largest and most prestigious OEMs and believes it has created one of the world’s thinnest sandcast automotive […]
