Sfogliabile_A&L_n4_AGOSTO_2016

0022-0028 4
needs to develop its infrastructures: in the Aurangabad we
produceforlocalmanufacturerssuchasTATA,GM,FCA
and VW machined aluminium die castings such as crankcases,
oil sumps and engine mounts.
In China we have a cast iron foundry for large castings
mainly aimed at products for the Agriculture and Industrial
sectors; aluminium for now is imported from India and Italy.
In the USA we are completing the construction of a new
plant in Indianapolis and by the end of the year we shall begin
the production of cylinder heads for ROTAX.
paese ha naturalmente grandi potenzialità, ma deve ancora
sviluppare le infrastrutture: nello stabilimento di Aurangabad
produciamo per i costruttori locali come TATA, GM, FCA
eVWpressocolatiinalluminiolavoraticomesottobasamenti,
coppe olio e supporti motore.
In Cinaabbiamo unafonderiainghisapergetti di grosseditrusions
and forged elements for chassis, suspensions and
other important details.
Ithinkyoumadetherightchoice,because
automotiveapplicationsarenowadaysahuge
opportunity for the light metal. For several
years now engineering, both for cars and for
transportation in general, is oriented towards
introducing aluminium in vehicles and
designing new parts and components based
on the characteristics of the light metal,
a very different approach with respect to the
Seventies when light alloys were considered
just replacement materials.
This was definitely our attitude, of course the developmentisaffectedbythecomplianceofmaterialsandtechnologies
with the new demands of industry, where weight
reduction is imperative, and for this reason, aluminium is
a winner. As I mentioned, the starting point were light alloycasts,
weenhancedtheirpotentialbyenrichingthem
with content and added value with the 2-mm operation, so
calledbecauseitsaimwasthereductionofthethickness
of structural casts meant for automotive uses. By means
of our experiments we overhauled many manufacturing
and use concepts regarding aluminium alloy casts, optimizing
the qualities of the use of aluminium, economically
and technically sustainable innovative ideas are needed, of
coursethesethingsaredifficulttodo,buttheconceptis,
Let us go back to your engagement in the
aluminium and automotive sectors: your
approach to light alloys dates back to not
many years ago, but you made huge leaps
forward in a short time.
During the past few years we developed an aluminium culture
that unfortunately is not as widespread in our country
asinGermany,JapanortheUSA,forinstance.Thedecisive
element to raise general awareness regarding the possible
uses of the light metal was very determined research
on the part of the global transportation industry, especially
car manufacturers.
Figures are eloquent: twenty years ago an average car
contained a few dozen kilos light alloys which for the most
part were non-structural casts, nowadays the aim is to
reach an average content of over 150 kg with may structural
cats, may rolled parts for car bodies, as well as ex-
mensioni prevalentemente orientata ai
prodotti del settore Agriculture e Industrial;
l’alluminio per ora viene importato
dall’India e dall’Italia. Negli USA infine
stiamo ultimando la costruzione
delnuovostabilimentoadIndianapolisedentrolafinedell’annoinizieremo
con la produzione di teste motore
per ROTAX.
Ritorniamo al vostro impegno
su alluminio ed automotive:
siete arrivati alle leghe leggere
non molti anni, fa ma avete fatto
in poco tempo passi da gigante.
Cisiamocostruitinegliultimianniuna
cultura dell’alluminio che purtroppononècosìdiffusaesviluppatanel
nostro paese come invece avviene
ad esempio, in Germania, in Giappone
o negli Stati Uniti. L’elemento determinante
per portare all’attenzione
diffusa le possibilità di impiego del metallo leggero è statalaricercadeterminatissimadell’alleggerimentodaparte
dell’industriaglobaledeitrasportiedinparticolaredeicostruttori
automobilistici.
Le cifre parlano chiaro: vent’anni fa un’auto di categoria
mediacontenevapochedecinedikgdilegheleggereper
Complete
spaceframes
made of aluminium
components are
assembled on
full robotic
production lines
I vari component
del telaio di
alluminio sono
assemblati con
line automatiche
completamente
robotizzate
August 2016 N° 04 - 25