Volvo Cars is expanding its vehicle manufacturing operation in Košice, Slovakia. The company placed an order with Idra Srl for the supply of two 9,000 tons giga-casting press machines for the production of aluminum components, which will position the company’s Košice plant as a strategic hub for giga-cast components. Volvo is among a number of […]
Editor’s Note: Since the June issue of Light Metal Age ran the Viami International Inc. article on aluminum giga-castings in car manufacturing, the topic of high pressure die casting (HPDC) has prompted interest as a focus of this column, especially as it applies to automotive applications. Such castings predominate in today’s cars that are powered […]
By Alicia Hartlieb and Martin Hartlieb, Viami International Inc. Numerous studies, especially from Ducker-Carlisle, have shown that aluminum usage in light vehicles has been growing for decades, having surpassed 500 lbs (227 kg) per light vehicle in North America and 396 lbs (180 kg) per vehicle in Europe. Until now, castings have been the predominant […]
Castool Tooling Systems, based in Uxbridge, Canada, designs and manufactures production tooling systems for the extrusion and die casting industries. For the extrusion sector, the company pioneered the fixed dummy block, thermally stable container, single cell die heater, and other innovations. Recently, Castoool completed the construction of a new facility, in which the company has […]
By Andrew Halonen, Mayflower Consulting LLC. Electric vehicles (EVs) and electrification of transportation in general are topics that dominate news outlets, magazines, and social media. OEMs, materials manufacturers, and those looking to capitalize on this new electrified economy are constantly sharing a barrage of information and data on new business models, the projected performance of […]
GFG Alliance is creating a new global aluminum enterprise, which will consolidate the aluminum operations acquired in recent years into a single entity. The new vertically-integrated aluminum group, known as ALVANCE Aluminium Group, aims to drive synergies and take full advantage of opportunities to expand. “The creation of ALVANCE highlights the global nature of our […]
Rio Tinto received the first order for its Revolution-Al™, a new high strength aluminum alloy developed to make lighter weight car wheels. The development of the new alloy was five years in the making, representing the company’s commitment to innovation. The project was carried out in cooperation with the company’s customers, who helped trial and test […]
Birmingham City University in the U.K. formed a strategic alliance with Meridian, the world’s largest producer of magnesium components, with the aim of showcasing magnesium as a viable alternative for luxury car makers and the aerospace industry. The two organizations will work together in the education, research, and development of magnesium use, which will place fuel efficiency through […]
