Lightweight Vehicle Manufacturing Summit explores forming, joining challenges

The 4th Lightweight Vehicle Manufacturing Summit 2017 returns to Detroit Feb. 22-23, 2017, to showcase and explore resolutions to forming, joining, and surface treatment challenges inherent in lightweighting manufacturing efforts.

Ford, GM, Toyota, Honda, FCA, Deere & Co., and Volvo are among the companies presenting on welding, mixed-material joining, forming, treatment technologies,adhesives, additive manufacturing, machine learning, and corrosion mitigation techniques.

Presentations include:

• Trucks and Heavy Vehicles - To address updated U.S. EPA regulations for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, the event will include a new discussion area focused on specific lightweighting technologies and manufacturing techniques for them, as well as for passenger vehicles.
• Aluminum Fabricating - The program will cover aluminum-related technology developments in castings, sheet, extrusions, joining, corrosion mitigation, and recycling.
• Multimaterial Structures - Manufacturing experts will share their expertise and evaluate the pros and cons of new technology that supports practical applications.
• Corrosion Mitigation - A presentation will address corrosion mitigation for multimaterial combinations, focusing on corrosion testing, prevention methods for mixed materials, and management of corrosion and distortion problems.
• Formability - A session will explore the formability of new material grades, forming techniques, and formability modeling.
• Joining with Adhesives - In line with the industry's increased use of adhesives, deep-dive sessions will evaluate their suitability, including failure mode analysis and the use of adhesives with different material combinations.
• Future Developments - A session examines future opportunities via advanced processes and technologies for automotive lightweighting, including additive manufacturing, machine learning, plastic, and composites.

Key speakers include:

• Dr. Paul Wolcott, General Motors, on body SMT innovations.
• Stacey Spencer, Volvo Group, on materials engineering surface treatment and paint.
• Theresa Klix, FCA US LLC, on metallic materials engineering.
• Raj Sohmshetty, Ford Motor Co., on advanced steel technology.
• Pete Edwards, Honda, on joining.
• Mohamad El-Zein, Deere & Co., on advanced materials.
• Shawn M. Morgans, Ford, on global vehicle architecture.
• John Catterall, General Motors, on underbody structures.
• Michael W. Danyo, Ford, on aluminum technology.

More information about the event can be found at www.global-lightweight-vehicle-manufacturing.com.