The two company have entered into a joint development agreement to collaborate on automotive parts using Alcoa’s Micromill technology.
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Ford will begin using Micromill aluminum later this year for a few parts in the 2016 F-150, with plans to expand its use to new vehicle platforms in the coming years. This technology was unveiled by Alcoa in December 2014. In addition, the companies will work together to license the Micromill alloys and process technology to potential customers around the world, initially targeting Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia.
“This high-tech aluminum will give Ford a true material edge enabling greater design flexibility and better vehicle performance”, Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld said in a statement.
Engineers from Ford have already validated the Micromill aluminum alloy in meeting the rigorous requirements for the manufacture of high-quality parts like those that make up the complex components in the F-150. This technology has more design flexibility and can produce superior vehicles giving Ford a distinct advantage.
To date, the Company has Micromill qualification agreements in place with nine major automotive customers on three continents, including Ford.
Ford Motor Company and Alcoa Inc. are joining forces to produce more formable and design-friendly aluminum alloys.
Automakers have turned to lighter aluminum alloys instead of high-strength steel, which is far heavier, to build more fuel-efficient vehicles that still meet safety standards. This technology integrates many technologies into a single production system.
Specific terms of the letter of intent with Danieli were not disclosed. This is the first time advanced automotive aluminum is being used commercially by an automobile manufacturer. The technology produces material with unrivalled characteristics, through a revolutionary manufacturing process. Additionally, automotive parts made with Micromill material will be twice as formable and at least 30 percent lighter than parts made from high strength steel. “We believe the technology can be used to develop new alloys that will improve our ability to form complex parts, which will help in both design and efficiency”.
Ford will start to produce aluminum-based tailgate parts for F-150 in the fourth quarter and other parts next year. The increased material strength allows for the use of thinner aluminum sheet without compromising dent resistance.
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The technology is also faster and reduces production time considerably. Micromill is capable of that in just 20 minutes. We enable smart buildings, sustainable food and beverage packaging, high performance defense vehicles across air, land and sea, deeper oil and gas drilling and more efficient power generation. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.
