Aligning alloy development efforts with automotive manufacturing and product performance requirements

Automotive aluminum sheet alloy development efforts should be aligned to the unique manufacturing and product performance requirements specific to an automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM). One way to communicate these unique manufacturing and product performance expectations is through a technology roadmap that lists key developments to: (1) improve manufacturing efficiency; (2) deliver new vehicle design; (3) meet corporate sustainability initiatives. Each objective has a set of target metrics and constraints that are aligned with the OEM specific manufacturing practices, product performance requirements, historical data, and engineering consensus. These metrics can be used by an aluminum supplier to inform and guide alloy development efforts and support collaborative and faster implementation. This talk will present an automotive aluminum sheet technology roadmap, highlighting specific gaps and opportunities to further reduce weight, improve formability, increase manufacturing efficiency and meet corporate sustainability initiatives.