The Auto Industry Looks to Aluminum Extrusions for Increased Performance and Cost-Effective

Automakers are employing an effective way to slim down electric vehicles, just as they have lightened their traditional combustion-engine lineup. They’re using more high-strength #aluminum to provide the needed lightweight. And they intend to continue to use the distinct capabilities of #extruded solutions to make their #vehicles more energy efficient, without sacrificing performance or aesthetics.

With increasing automotive safety standards and industry regulations, extruders have expanded their research and development capabilities to offer a complete solution to customers. These discussions begin during the design phases, with the end goal of creating customized solutions to meet both customer and industry demands. The #extrusion #industry is now not only offering expanded capabilities that go beyond supplying a specific component but also offering modeling and comprehensive testing to maximize performance and efficiency throughout the entire process.

Specifically, the use of #aluminum and extruded aluminum products in a North American vehicle is expected to climb up to 30 percent over the next 10 years–to 565 pounds by 2028, representing 16 percent of the vehicle’s weight, according to Ducker Worldwide data.

The reasons auto designers and engineers favor #aluminumextrusion are well known. Employing aluminum extrusions allows them to use different aluminum alloys and profile geometries to not only maximize lightweight but also manage the specific application in the vital aspect of energy absorption and crash-management requirements. Further, aluminum extrusions have a distinct ability to help automakers cost-effectively meet the stringent 2025 fuel economy and emissions targets when compared to other materials. For example, aluminum can have an estimated 40-plus percent of a vehicle’s body weight compared to steel.

Beyond weight savings, aluminum extrusions also offer solutions that increase vehicle safety, as demonstrated by numerous vehicles in production today. With this in mind, automakers look for aluminum alloys that deliver excellent crash performance, high-yield strength, and reduced weight. This is a direct result of the energy absorption provided by well-designed materials #aluminumalloys; for automakers, 6xxx series alloys are commonly utilized.