GM partners with Japanese firm in developing steel alternative
12-11-2011, 09:19 AM
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GM partners with Japanese firm in developing steel alternative
Last Updated: December 11. 2011 1:00AM
GM partners with Japanese firm in developing steel alternative
Bryce G. Hoffman/ The Detroit News
General Motors Co. last week announced an alliance with Japan's Teijin Limited to co-develop advanced carbon fiber composite technology that the Detroit automaker hopes will make its cars and trucks lighter and more fuel-efficient.
Carbon fiber, which is 10 times stronger than steel but only a quarter of the weight, already is being used by supercar manufacturers such as Pagani and Bugatti to make their high-end sports cars lighter and faster. But it has been too difficult to mass-produce and too expensive for mainstream use.
Now, GM is trying to change that.
"Our relationship with Teijin provides the opportunity to revolutionize the way carbon fiber is used in the automotive industry," said GM Vice Chairman Steve Girsky. "This technology holds the potential to be an industry game-changer and demonstrates GM's long-standing commitment to innovation."
Teijin has developed carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic technology that GM says is faster and less costly than current offerings.
Teijin, which already provides carbon fiber technology for high-end niche uses, has developed a proprietary process that GM says allows it to mass-produce carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic components in less than a minute. That is significantly quicker than conventional approaches and promises to yield higher volumes at lower cost.
"(This) technology, which promises to realize revolutionarily lighter automotive body structures, will play an important role in GM's initiative to bring carbon fiber components into mainstream vehicles," said Norio Kamei, senior managing director of Teijin. "We believe our visionary relationship with GM will lead the way in increased usage of green composites in the automotive industry."
The Japanese firm plans to open a technical center "in the northern part of the United States" early next year to support its work with GM.
General Motors Co. CEO Dan Akerson has said reducing vehicle weight is essential if his company is to meet the tough new fuel economy mandates of the federal government.
bhoffman@detnews.com
(313) 222-2443
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20111211/...#ixzz1gEg4LumW
GM partners with Japanese firm in developing steel alternative
Bryce G. Hoffman/ The Detroit News
General Motors Co. last week announced an alliance with Japan's Teijin Limited to co-develop advanced carbon fiber composite technology that the Detroit automaker hopes will make its cars and trucks lighter and more fuel-efficient.
Carbon fiber, which is 10 times stronger than steel but only a quarter of the weight, already is being used by supercar manufacturers such as Pagani and Bugatti to make their high-end sports cars lighter and faster. But it has been too difficult to mass-produce and too expensive for mainstream use.
Now, GM is trying to change that.
"Our relationship with Teijin provides the opportunity to revolutionize the way carbon fiber is used in the automotive industry," said GM Vice Chairman Steve Girsky. "This technology holds the potential to be an industry game-changer and demonstrates GM's long-standing commitment to innovation."
Teijin has developed carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic technology that GM says is faster and less costly than current offerings.
Teijin, which already provides carbon fiber technology for high-end niche uses, has developed a proprietary process that GM says allows it to mass-produce carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic components in less than a minute. That is significantly quicker than conventional approaches and promises to yield higher volumes at lower cost.
"(This) technology, which promises to realize revolutionarily lighter automotive body structures, will play an important role in GM's initiative to bring carbon fiber components into mainstream vehicles," said Norio Kamei, senior managing director of Teijin. "We believe our visionary relationship with GM will lead the way in increased usage of green composites in the automotive industry."
The Japanese firm plans to open a technical center "in the northern part of the United States" early next year to support its work with GM.
General Motors Co. CEO Dan Akerson has said reducing vehicle weight is essential if his company is to meet the tough new fuel economy mandates of the federal government.
bhoffman@detnews.com
(313) 222-2443
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20111211/...#ixzz1gEg4LumW
12-11-2011, 09:24 AM
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