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(September 22, 2009) Most of the world's leading automobile manufacturers are unveiling their newest models at the International Motor Show 2009 in Frankfurt. Hydro is right in front, delivering lightweight aluminum components and systems to many of these models.
Among the debuts at this year's exhibition are world premieres from Audi, BMW, Opel, Peugeot and Renault. Ten of the models from these carmakers alone have been built with aluminum components and systems from Hydro.
"It is positive to see the development in the new models and the growing amount of lightweight aluminum components and systems within them," says Salvador Biosca, who leads Hydro's automotive activities in the area of extruded aluminum.
AL: Hydro supplies the aluminum content pictured above for several BMW models, including the new "small" Rolls-Royce.
"We are committed to our customers in the automotive industry and are busy working on the next group of project launches." Leader in light weight
Hydro is the leading supplier of aluminum applications to the automotive industry and a technological leader in several fields: crash management, heat exchange tubing, powertrain and suspension parts.
The company delivers to OEMs as well as to tier suppliers in the industry. Its product range covers rolled aluminum – strip and sheet – and extruded aluminum solutions, depending on the application.
The models now debuting are using Hydro's front and rear bumper systems, monobeam solutions, subframes and rollover protection systems. These models include:
- Opel Astra, front and rear bumper beams
- Rolls-Royce Ghost, front end
- Audi R8 Spyder, rollover protection system
- Peugeot 5008 MPV, rear bumper
In addition, Hydro is supplying flat-rolled aluminum strip for body parts to the new BMW 5 series, the Mercedes-Benz E-class station wagon and all versions of the facelifted C-class model, as well as the current Porsche Panamera.
"With our new production center and annealing line in Germany, we can supply carmakers with aluminum strip for all kinds of internal and external body parts," says Pascal Wagner, who is responsible for Hydro's automotive business in rolled aluminium.
Hydro normally does not deliver rolled and extruded aluminum tubing components directly to carmakers, but to other tier suppliers. Although this makes it more difficult to be precise regarding the new models, Biosca says that most of the cars debuting in Frankfurt are using aluminum from Hydro in heat transfer applications.
Sustainable mobility
The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) is organizing IAA 2009, which opens with two trade days for industry professionals before opening its doors to the public from September 19-27. About 700 exhibitors, including more than 60 vehicle manufacturers, will participate.
The slogan for IAA 2009 — "A Moving Experience" — builds on the idea of sustainable mobility, with focus on further reductions in fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
"We (in Germany) have consistently pursued this strategy during the past two years by substantially reducing the carbon dioxide emissions of our new vehicles … by two percent in 2007 and by three percent in 2008," says VDA president Matthias Wissmann.