Alcan touts special diecasting technology

摘要

When Alcan Automotive, a unit of Alcan Inc., was challenged by Audi to develop several thin-walled, large-surface castings for a mass-produced automotive use, the supplier decided to use its High-Q-Cast technology. One of the parts was a B-pillar, and for its efforts Alcan earned first place in the 1-10 lb aluminum category of a North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) competition. The casting is produced by Alcan BDW GmbH & Co. KG, an Alcan Automotive plant in Markt Schwaben, Germany. High-Q-Cast technology is a cold chamber casting process that produces aluminum and magnesium castings with laser and MIG weldability, good mechanical properties, and high flow-length to wall-thickness ratios. Used successfully by Alcan for a variety of automotive applications in Europe, the company is now seeking to license the technology to a select number of die casters in North America.