Delphi launches welding company

Delphi Technologies Inc. (DTI), a Delphi Corp. subsidiary, has started a new welding company called SpaceForm Inc. to commercialize its deformation resistance welding (DRW) technology within the mobile space-frame market.

To be headquartered at TechTown, Detroit's research and technology park, Spaceform is funded through an award from the Michigan Technology Tri-Corridor and from Automation Alley. Delphi's support of the project will be a DRW license and technology transfer and startup assistance for the new company.

Initially, SpaceForm will seek OEM and Tiered supplier development contracts to confirm, design, prototype, and validate DRW for a wide range of mobile applications. The lab is expected to be ready for projects in the second quarter of 2006.

The DRW process, which allows the use of dissimilar metals, creates atomically bonded joints through the heating and deformation of the mating surfaces. With DRW, tubes may be joined with other tubes, sheets, or solids. The technology can be applied to tubular structures and hydro forms used in space frames for automobiles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, bicycles, and wheelchairs.

More information can be found here.