Lotus Cars Ltd. has been famous for cutting-edge technology for more than 60 years. For decades, the British company founded by legendary engineer Colin Chapman was synonymous with Formula 1 motor racing.

During the past decade, the average amount of aluminum in passenger cars has doubled. Based on the latest designs, this trend will continue in the coming years.

Steel has been, is now, and will continue to be the predominant material for vehicle structures and body parts, such as doors, hoods, liftgates and fenders. But, other materials, such as aluminum, magnesium, plastics and composites, are becoming increasingly important.

When the latest-generation C-Class series of automobiles was being developed in 2014, Mercedes-Benz designers placed a great emphasis on weight reduction to reduce fuel consumption.

RICHMOND, IN — A newly formed aluminum manufacturer has announced plans to establish a factory in eastern Indiana.

Automotive and aerospace manufacturers have been at the forefront of the lightweighting trend for some time now. But, they're not the only ones. The railway industry could also benefit from the use of new, lightweight structural materials.

Automotive OEMs worldwide are desperate to reduce vehicle weight these days. BMW is no exception.

As manufacturers expand the use of aluminum, titanium, magnesium and other high-strength, lightweight alloys, interest in alternative joining technologies is increasing.

According to a new study by P&S Market Research, global sales of self-piercing rivet technology (SPR) will grow at a cumulative annual rate of 26 percent between 2016 and 2022. P&S predicts manufacturers worldwide will consume 45 billion of the fasteners in 2022.

ARaymond Automotive has provided custom fasteners, clips, connectors, adhesives and other materials to OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers around the world for nearly 20 years. Its engineers specialize in three processes (fastening, fluid connections and bonding) that are used in all areas of a vehicle.