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Roof structure system by Vari-Form saves weight on 2016 Nissan Titan

Vari-Form, Livonia, Mich., has designed and produced a hydroformed steel roof structure for the 2016 Nissan Titan® pickup as part of the company’s Hydroform-Intensive Body Structures (HIBS) strategy. According to Vari-Form, the part helped Nissan meet its targets for roof strength and crash performance.

The part is designed around a single hydroformed component that serves as a single-concept roof rail configuration that works for all variants of the Titan model.

The approach also eliminates more than 20 parts per truck. In previous designs, those separate pieces had to be welded together to form the rail. Integration of features like flanges and piercings into the die allows production of the hydroformed tube as a single part. This cuts about 35 lbs. from each vehicle’s weight while retaining the strength of steel.

According to Vari-Form, this is the first use of high-strength, variable-gauge steel tubing in a roof rail application.