The demand for lighter automobile bodies in order to provide improved fuel efficiency and reduced CO2emissions has increased in recent years, and various types of aluminum alloys are now being used for automobile parts in an increasingly broad range of ways. Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. in Japan developed a new fiber laser welding technology said to address […]
Taber Extrusions, an NMLP group company, installed a new friction stir welding (FSW) line at its Russellville, Arkansas, manufacturing facility for the aerospace, rail, automotive, marine, transportation, and other industries. With this machine, Taber will be able to weld large double sided thick profiles with minimal cycles of the machine, providing greater efficiency and more precise results. […]
Vitex Extrusion, LLC in Franklin, New Hampshire invested in the installation of new machining centers in order to expand its downstream aluminum extrusion fabrication capabilities. This enables the company to meet increased demand for long part fabrication and precision machining. “During the last 24 months, customer demand for precision machined, long-length extruded profiles has increased […]
Engineers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering developed a method for welding AA7075 alloy. Developed in the 1940s for the automotive industry, the alloy that is nearly as strong and one-third its weight, but traditionally has been almost impossible to weld together using the techniques commonly used by auto makers for the assembly of […]
CMS Window Systems invested £500,000 (~US$645,000) in next generation fabrication machinery at its factory in Castlecary, Scotland, more than doubling its production capacity for aluminum windows, doors, and curtain walling. The investment has also increased workforce at the site. The investment project includes the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Emmegi Quadra L2 18-axis CNC machining centre for milling, […]
Futura Industries, a subsidiary of Bonnell Aluminum, installed two new CNC machines due to increased demand for fabrication and precision milling. The new machines will enable the extrusion company to continue to deliver reliable service and to improve lead times. “These newer machines have the latest technology giving us better fabrication speed and reliability,” said […]
Kobe Steel and FANUC Corporation jointly developed an experimental robotic welding system to join dissimilar metals — such as aluminum and high strength steel — amid the growing trend toward multi-material applications aimed at utilizing the optimal material for the most appropriate use. The companies plan to present the system to automakers in order to commercialize […]
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed and successfully tested a novel process — called friction stir dovetailing — that joins thick plates of aluminum to steel. The new process will be used to make lighter-weight military vehicles that are more agile and fuel efficient. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the […]
