Atlanta’s rolled aluminium firm Novelis debuted a new automotive aluminium alloy this week that it says is the strongest one it has developed so far.
Novelis’ new alloy, the Advanz 7UHS-s701, is formulated for use in safety-critical structural components for passenger vehicles. The firm said components such as the A and B pillar reinforcements and side-impact door beams.
In addition to consumer vehicles, Novelis sees a use for the aluminium alloy in commercial vehicles and electric vehicles as well, as it is up to 40 percent lighter than competing high-strength steel. This would pay immediate dividends for both classes of vehicle by making lighter parts that serve the same function, resulting in an overall lighter vehicle.
Philippe Meyer, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Novelis Inc., highlighted the importance of this new automotive aluminium alloy in a related press release.
“The s701 technology represents the future of high-strength material in automotive applications and offers a clear alternative to the most advanced high-strength steel products. Aluminum is already the material of choice for lightweighting, and now we are offering a solution that helps automakers design even safer, lighter and better performing vehicles.”
In addition to its superior strength, the new aluminium alloy can be used for age-hardening tempers, allowing the components a much greater shelf life than usual.
Rick Teague, CEO, TELOS Global, with whom Novelis is working to develop a hot-stamping process, says the new aluminium alloy introduces a new versatility to the automotive production market.
“We have been co-developing targeted hot formed application solutions using Advanz 7UHS-s701 for some time now, delivering greater economic value through increased levels of mass reduction while meeting critical safety requirements. Launching this product into the market will now give automakers even more flexibility to engineer highly efficient, multi-material structures.”
Novelis is a subsidiary of Mumbai’s Hindalco Industries Ltd. Based in Atlanta, the firm accounts for almost half of Hindalco’s consolidated revenue. The world’s largest recycler of aluminium, Novelis conducts operations in ten different countries, employs around eleven thousand people, and reported US$10 billion in revenue for the most recent fiscal year.