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    Alcoa to Supply Nexans with Low-Carbon Aluminum Rod

    Alcoa formed an agreement with Nexans, a global cable producer, for the supply of primary aluminum produced using ELYSIS™ inert anode technology, which eliminates all direct greenhouse gas emissions from the traditional smelting process. “In the fight against climate change, solutions that support the world’s energy transition make a real difference,” said Vincent Dessale, chief […]

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    The Potential for Magnesium Forgings in Automotive

    By Andrew Halonen, Mayflower Consulting LLC. In the world of product development, many materials are available to pick from, yet companies tend to play to their favorites. In metals, these materials range from exotic to common, from low density to high, and they are processed into different forms. The majority of car components — from […]

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    Rio Tinto and Ford Sign MOU for a Net Zero Future

    Rio Tinto and Ford Motor Company signed a non-binding global memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly develop more sustainable and secure supply chains for battery and low-carbon materials to be used in Ford vehicles. The multi-materials partnership will support the transition toward a net-zero future by supplying Ford, one of the world’s largest automakers, with […]

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    The First Movers Coalition Launches Aluminum Sector

    The World Economic Forum has launched an aluminum sector for its First Movers Coalition (FMC), a global initiative aimed at harnessing the purchasing power of companies to decarbonize the seven industrial sectors that currently account for 30% of global emissions, including aluminum. “Technology has given us the tools to reduce our emissions and build a […]

  • Ford F-150 opener

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    Aluminum Still Makes Ford Trucks Tough

    By Rose Eaton, Light Metal Age. Ford’s use of aluminum began slowly over time, beginning with closure applications in hoods, fenders, and decklids, until it became an integral part of the Ford F-150 truck in 2014. Now, throughout each new iteration of the large truck, including the new 2022 F-150 Lightning electric vehicle (EV), high-strength […]

  • Rivian R1T electric pickup

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    The Value Proposition for Lightweighting in Electric Vehicles

    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 […]

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    Constellium Supplies Aluminum for Ford F-150 Lightning

    Constellium will be supplying aluminum structural components for the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning, which will be available Spring 2022. The F-150 Lightning, like other F-Series pickup trucks, extensively uses high-strength aluminum alloys. The structural components Constellium is providing for the F-150 Lightning include the windshield header, rocker, radiator support, and other unspecified parts. “Constellium is […]

  • Figure 1. A Honda Pilot following the small overlap front crash test on the driver side. The position of the dummy shows that the driver compartment remained intact. (Source: IIHS.)

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    Aluminum Extrusions Prove Superior in Bumper Systems

    By Andrew Halonen, Mayflower Consulting LLC. The automotive business is rife with change as OEMs introduce new powertrains for hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs). Car companies are also spending billions in big bets on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), ride sharing, artificial intelligence (AI), and service businesses in an attempt to shift dollars from the […]