Abstract:
Automotive steel forgings are under threat from alternative materials offering either reduced weight (e.g. aluminium) or reduced cost (e g. cast iron). The competition is particularly acute in the chassis, and it is not unusual to find a range of different materials and manufacturing technologies employed within modern suspension systems. British Steel Engineering Steels (BSES) has recognised that Early Vendor Involvement with vehicle manufacturers can be exploited in order to reverse the trend and promote the use of steel forgings. BSES has carried out two demonstration projects with a major vehicle manufacturer, involving two forging companies. One of the projects optimised an existing steel forging and the other successfully demonstrated the replacement of a cast iron component with a steel forging. The projects sought to optimise components in terms of design, manufacturing and materials, using the expertise of all elements of the supply chain and were coordinated by British Steel's Automotive Engineering Group (BS AEG). The results of the projects have shown that there is a significant opportunity to improve the weight and cost competitiveness of steel forgings and thus ensure their continued or extended use in future automotive applications. It has also demonstrated that the steel industry can present a highly credible automotive engineering input to vehicle programmes and become valued partners in those programmes at the earliest opportunity.
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Automotive steel forgings are under threat from alternative materials offering either reduced weight (e.g. aluminium) or reduced cost (e g. cast iron). The competition is particularly acute in the chassis, and it is not unusual to find a range of different materials and manufacturing technologies employed within modern suspension systems. British Steel Engineering Steels (BSES) has recognised that Early Vendor Involvement with vehicle manufacturers can be exploited in order to reverse the trend and promote the use of steel forgings. BSES has carried out two demonstration projects with a major vehicle manufacturer, involving two forging companies. One of the projects optimised an existing steel forging and the other successfully demonstrated the replacement of a cast iron component with a steel forging. The projects sought to optimise components in terms of design, manufacturing and materials, using the expertise of all elements of the supply chain and were coordinated by British Steel's Automotive Engineering Group (BS AEG). The results of the projects have shown that there is a significant opportunity to improve the weight and cost competitiveness of steel forgings and thus ensure their continued or extended use in future automotive applications. It has also demonstrated that the steel industry can present a highly credible automotive engineering input to vehicle programmes and become valued partners in those programmes at the earliest opportunity.
To Download Full Paper CLICK HERE
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