Ford Motor Company New F-150 Gets Better With Aluminum From Alcoa

Ford and Alcoa are broadening their partnership by way of using a more moderen type of aluminum that is stronger and extra simply formed into auto physique elements for the carmakers in style F-150 collection pick-up vans. The metals firm is in talks with eight other automakers on using Micromill technology. The automaker has teamed with Alcoa to commercialize the supplier’s new “Micromill” technology, used to create aluminum sheet that is claimed to bring 40 percent greater formability and 30 percent greater strength than current alternatives.

The deal with the automaker is a high profile first for Alcoa’s Micromill – Ford’s F-Series pickup trucks have been the best-selling model in the United States since 1982.

Ford will start to produce aluminum-based tailgate parts for F-150 in the fourth quarter and other parts next year. The increased material strength improves dent resistance, enabling the production of automotive sheet that is thinner and even lighter than previous generations.

Alcoa initially plans to make the Micromill steel in San Antonio, Texas, but is considering building additional capacity as demand for the material grows, CEO Klaus Kleinfeld said.

“It gives us flexibility for better design and better styling as well as dramatically reduced time”, Nair told reporters at Ford’s research and engineering campus.

The technology is also faster and reduces production time considerably. Alcoa suggests molten metal can transition to production-ready coil in just 20 minutes, compared to a weeks-long process at some traditional rolling mills.

Alcoa will provide its patented Micromill material for multiple parts of the new F-150, while Ford will double the use of Micromill on its vehicles between 2016 and 2017. The big announcement is that Ford will use Alcoa’s Micromill material in multiple components on the 2016 F-150.

Apart from facilitating the shaping of parts, the material will also allow parts made of numerous components to be produced as a single unit. This technology has more design flexibility and can produce superior vehicles giving Ford a distinct advantage. “The ability to produce an alloy using Alcoa’s Micromill technology to make that part is a real statement for how this process can benefit the automotive industry and Ford in particular”. The technology is used to produce efficient vehicles that meet customer demand.

The collaboration between Ford and Alcoa will further extend the existing suite of Micromill manufactured automotive alloys used in Ford vehicles. Inside door, panels and fenders will be among components made from the alloys.