CSIRO forges new direction for automotive industry
Aussie metallurgy team presents new manufacturing techniques to the American marketA team effort coordinated by the CSIRO has presented two new methods of lightweight part production to the American automotive industry.
The new methods allow parts manufacturers to produce lighter components for a price commensurate with traditional steel component production, benefiting both fuel efficiency and crash safety.
"Both our heat treatment and ATM technologies have been evaluated or trialled by major car component manufacturers, with positive results," said Sam Tartaglia, business development manager for the CSIRO's 'Light Metal Flagship'.
The two methods enable parts manufacturers to produce high pressure die cast (HPDC) aluminium alloy components which are stronger and lighter, using reduced material content.
"HPDC is an established technology already used in manufacturing vehicle components, so improvements are relatively easy for manufacturers to implement," said Tartaglia.
"Our technologies use magnesium and aluminium alloys to create strong, lightweight car parts which are cost-competitive with structural components made of steel, and perform equally well," said Barrie Finnin, lead presenter in the US and formerly the General Manager for Alloy Technologies with CSIRO Materials Science & Engineering.
"We aim to get the best performance out of lighter metals with efficient manufacturing techniques and minimum wastage of materials."
Finnin presented the CSIRO's metal technology developments at CastExpo 2008 held in Atlanta, Georgia back in May, as well as the Society of Automotive Engineers' World Congress in Detroit in April and, in June, the second Annual Advanced Lightweight Materials for Automotive conference, organised by the International Quality and Productivity Centre, in Detroit.
For the scientific research body, the showcase events represent an opportunity to overcome the prevailing 'NIH' syndrome ('Not Invented Here'), with the CSIRO seeking to convince manufacturers in America that the technology is viable -- just so it will be adopted by those manufacturers' Australian divisions.
"Promotion of these technologies globally is essential to ensure their uptake within Australia," Finnin admitted.
"The large manufacturers specify the parts produced by local component makers for both export and domestic sales, so we need to promote them internationally."
Picture courtesy of the CSIRO
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