lightweighting

Carbon-Fiber Composites Grow in Popularity

Adhesives and fasteners can be used to assemble many types of composite parts

June 3, 2019

Strong and lightweight, carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) offers numerous benefits to automotive and aerospace manufacturers. Many engineers are intrigued by potential applications for the material, yet remain frustrated by joining challenges.

Allite and Weis Develop Magnesium Bike Frame

April 17, 2019

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MIAMISBURG, OH—Allite Inc., a materials supplier specializing in lightweight products, has partnered with Weis Manufacturing to codevelop the first racing bicycle frame made entirely from the magnesium.

Air Force Engineers Focus on Metals Research

Austin Weber

March 11, 2019

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Carbon-fiber composite materials have been the darling of the aerospace industry in recent years. But, metal still plays a critical role in commercial and military aircraft, especially for applications that involve high temperatures or high stresses, such as engines and landing gear.

Automakers Turn to Production-Ready Printable Parts

Automotive engineers are bullish on additive manufacturing technology.

Austin Weber

March 7, 2019

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Recently, a startup Italian car company called XEV launched a two-seat electric vehicle. When it goes into production at a plant in Jiangsu, China, next month, the LXEV will become the world's first mass-produced printed car.

LIFT Unveils New Lightweighting Projects

December 19, 2018

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Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow (LIFT) recently launched its third round of technology projects.

Clemson Leads the Lightweight Vehicle Charge

Austin Weber

November 12, 2018

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Engineers at Clemson University are tackling the lightweighting challenge by developing new applications for carbon-fiber composites and other nontraditional materials.

New Design Cuts Vehicle Body Weight in Half

October 22, 2018

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Engineers at Gordon Murray Design in the U.K. have developed a new production technique that cuts vehicle weight in half.

Pneumatic Technology Drives Innovative Flow Drill Systems

Zoe Leduc

October 10, 2018

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Faced with the need to join aluminum to aluminum and aluminum to steel, automakers have been forced to find alternatives to the tried-and-true spot welding technology they had been using for decades to join all-steel assemblies. Flow drill screws are one such alternative.

Lightweighting Research Center Gets Giant Friction Welder

October 9, 2018

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SOUTH BEND, IN—Manufacturing Technology Inc. (MTI) has shipped North America’s first linear friction welder capable of joining full-sized parts to the Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT) facility in Detroit, where it will contribute to cutting edge light-weighting research in the automotive and aerospace sectors.