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NEXT EVENT:

AUGUST 22-24, 2023

LIVE IN DETROIT & ONLINE

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ABOUT THE 2022 EVENT: The original networking hub for the automotive advanced material engineering community – OEMS and the entire multi-materials and joining solutions supply chain – returns in person to Detroit on 23 – 25 August 2022.

After 2 years of virtual initiatives for our growing GALM community, we look forward to hosting live discussions and providing the opportunity for delegates to benchmark and learn from other automotive OEMs on the core subjects of multi-material selection and utilization. Evaluation of the design advantages of alternate lightweight materials as a solution to escalating costs and supply chain sourcing challenges will be at the center of the conference as leading experts from the global automotive industry share their strategies, challenges and solutions.  

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LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIAL SELECTION TO IMPROVE BEV RANGE AND PERFORMANCE

MULTI-MATERIAL SELECTION TO INCREASE THE RANGE OF BEV’S WITHOUT INCREASING BATTERY SIZE

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In 2022, cost continues to be a major strategic driver for the industry to ensure that the next generation of lightweight vehicles are profitable for OEMS and affordable for customers. For example, certain grades of aluminium and magnesium are increasingly challenging from a supply chain and cost perspective. Solutions include utilizing alternate materials for specific applications and applying different processes to existing materials to make the vehicle lighter incorporating, for example, new additive materials together with innovative sandwich applications. Day 1 of the Congress will focus on the latest materials of interest to the industry including ultra high strength steel, the evolving aluminum series, reinforced composites, magnesium, carbon fiber and other sustainable bio-materials. 

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WHERE DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO USE ULTRA HIGH STRENGTH STEEL OVER ALUMINUM IN MIXED METAL DESIGNS?

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Identifying the most suitable material and joining technique for each part of the whole BEV architecture including body structure, battery enclosure, safety and reinforcement components is key - and Day 2 of the conference will also look at specific examples of how material selection can increase the range of BEV’s without increasing battery size.

Selection of joining methodologies for dissimilar materials, especially components with different thicknesses, will be the main theme of Day 3 with a dedicated section of the conference on technology and methodology innovation for mixed materials joining including welding, fastening, hot stamping, adhesives, hybrid techniques and forming. And the important subject of evaluating solutions for ultra high strength steel joining and addressing corrosion between mixed metal joints will also be covered.

The issue of B.E.V. range and light weighting is clearly a strategic issue for OEMS to address for many different market segments. For example, when considering a city car versus an electric SUV for longer journeys, how much range do customers actually want? Exactly how much light weighting is required to extend the range of a BEV without increasing the battery size? How are OEMS quantifying the cost of range extension exactly? And what are the latest engineering solutions to make cost competitive range extension possible without installing an even bigger battery?

These and many other questions will also be posed to the panel at the 2022 Global Automotive Lightweight Materials and Manufacturing Innovation Congress.  

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LEARNING FROM INNOVATIONS IN OTHER INDUSTRIES

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Automotive manufacturing innovation and sustainability requires not only OEM competitor benchmarking but also an understanding of the latest thinking in related industries. This opening panel includes case studies on key applications and how people are doing things differently in other industries that could benefit automotive industry processes and manufacturing. The application of emerging transformative technologies in joining and forming from different industries including military and aerospace will be presented to enable the GALM automotive community to explore the cutting edge forming solutions being utilized in military equipment and how they can be adapted for vehicle manufacturing.

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AGENDA AT A GLANCE:
 

Day 1 – Cost Competitive Material Selection & Design For Manufacturability	Day 2 – Multi-Material Selection For BEV’s & Multi Energy Platforms	Day 3 – Multi-Material Joining Technique Selection
COST REDUCTION Designing With Alternate Materials & Apply Innovative Processes To Existing Materials	BEVS AND RANGE Calculations To Demonstrate How Much Range Could Be Gained Through Lightweighting Alone	APPPLICATION OF EMERGING TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNOLOGIES In Joining And Forming From Different Industries Including Military And Aerospace
HIGH STRENGTH STEEL & GEN 3 MATERIALS How To Utilize For Chassis & Underbody Applications	MIXED METAL DESIGN FOR WHOLE BEV BODY STRUCTURE Selecting The Most Optimal Material For Each Appropriate Location	DISSIMILAR MATERIALS WITH DIFFERENT THICKNESS Selection Of Joining Methodology For Materials Of Different Width & Thickness
DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURABILITY Making Architectural Design Decisions, Considering Manufacturability, That Supports Material Selection	BATTERY STRUCTURE DESIGN Evaluate Contrasting Methodologies To Optimize The Design Of The Battery Tray & Enclosure	HIGH STRENGTH STEEL Evaluating Competing Approaches For Joining Ultra High Strength Steel To Other Metals
MIXED METAL DESIGNS Design Of Chassis & Underbody Utilizing Mixed Ultra High Strength Steels, Aluminium & Magnesium	BATTERY HOUSING MATERIAL SELECTION Comparing Steel With Aluminium & Evaluating Optimal Joining Techniques For The Battery Enclosure	MIXED METAL CORROSION Addressing Corrosion Between Mixed Metal Joints
COMPOSITES – LEARNING FROM AEROSPACE AND MILITARY How Carbon Fibre & Reinforced Composites Could Be Cost Effectively Applied To The Passenger Compartment & Internal Panels	MULTI-ENERGY ARCHITECTURES Design & Material Selection To Accommodate Configurable Multi Energy Platforms & Modular Solutions Featuring Different Battery Sizes	WELDING TECHNOLOGIES FOR MIXED MATERIALS The Future Of Hot Stamping & Replacing Mechanical Joining
MULTI-MATERIAL SELECTION FOR BODY STRUCTURE, REINFORCEMENTS AND UNDERCARRIAGE Replacing Expensive Materials With Cheaper, Lightweight Alternatives	SYSTEM COMBINATIONS Assess Trade Offs & Evaluate Engineering Strategies For Combining The Battery With The Body Structure To Reduce Mass	JOINING TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION Technology & Methodology Innovation For Mixed Materials Joining – Including Welding, Fastening, Hot Stamping, Adhesives, Hybrid Techniques & Forming
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND INTERNAL PANELS Application Of Lightweight Sustainable Materials Including Composites & Carbon Fibre Manufacturing Solutions	ENSURING BATTERY AND CRASH SAFETY Material Selection To Maximize Safety And Ensure Side Protection Of The Battery	DESIGN AND TESTING FOR JOINING Simulating The Behaviour Of The Join