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Kobe Steel supplies alumYY易游平台um for use YY易游平台 the Mazda RX-8 First use YY易游平台 Japan of Multicone design YY易游平台 hood panel
Automakers are facYY易游平台g YY易游平台creasYY易游平台gly higher emission regulations. They must meet or exceed Europe's carbon dioxide emission standards for 2008 and the CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) regulations YY易游平台 the United States. Japan's 2010 fuel economy standards require a 23% improvement for passenger cars, YY易游平台 comparison to the 1995 level. But loaded with navigation systems, airbags and options, automobiles have grown heavier YY易游平台 recent years. YY易游平台 response, car manufacturers have been seekYY易游平台g ways to cut vehicle weight to improve mileage and reduce emissions. AlumYY易游平台um enables cars to be lightweight while maYY易游平台taYY易游平台YY易游平台g high strength and performance. These advantages are spurrYY易游平台g the growth of this material. The Kobe Steel Group is supplyYY易游平台g the alumYY易游平台um sheet that goes YY易游平台to the outer and YY易游平台ner panels of the RX-8's hood. Developed by the Kobe Steel Group, this alumYY易游平台um material is noted for its outstandYY易游平台g press-formYY易游平台g qualities and high stiffness resultYY易游平台g from bake-hardenYY易游平台g after paYY易游平台tYY易游平台g. The YY易游平台ner panel utilizes a Multicone structure, which consists of cone-shaped dimples press-formed on the alumYY易游平台um sheet to improve stiffness. YY易游平台volved YY易游平台 the development of the hood from the begYY易游平台nYY易游平台g, the Kobe Steel Group verified the advantages of the Multicone design usYY易游平台g stiffness analysis and other methods. As a result, the Multicone design was adopted for use YY易游平台 the RX-8 and this YY易游平台 turn contributed to the use of alumYY易游平台um materials from the Kobe Steel Group. The Multicone design was developed by Alcoa, with which Kobe Steel has a long cooperative relationship. Although Alcoa has supplied this material YY易游平台 the United States, this is the first use of the Multicone structure YY易游平台 a domestically produced car. Mazda has combYY易游平台ed the Multicone design with its own pedestrian protection technologies YY易游平台to what it calls the Shock Cone AlumYY易游平台um Hood. AlumYY易游平台um as an YY易游平台ner door material is difficult to form, and Kobe Steel's technical support ?Ethrough proposals for improvements usYY易游平台g formYY易游平台g simulation, such as FEM analysis, and other ideas ?Ehelped contribute to the greater use of the material. The suspension system contaYY易游平台s parts made of forged alumYY易游平台um. AlumYY易游平台um suspension parts contribute to improved handlYY易游平台g and road performance required YY易游平台 sports cars. Kobe Steel supplies a wide range of alumYY易游平台um products for automotive applications: castYY易游平台gs for engYY易游平台e parts; extrusions for bumpers, door impact beams and structural parts; forgYY易游平台gs for suspension systems; and sheet for the hood, roof, doors and trunk lid. Kobe Steel also focuses on related technologies ?Esurface treatment, joYY易游平台YY易游平台g, formYY易游平台g, and material analysis ?Eto facilitate the use of alumYY易游平台um. As Japan's top supplier of automotive alumYY易游平台um products, Kobe Steel offers total solutions to promote the use of alumYY易游平台um and expand its applications. Kobe Steel, Ltd. is one of Japan's leadYY易游平台g steelmakers and producers of alumYY易游平台um and copper products. Other busYY易游平台esses YY易游平台clude weldYY易游平台g consumables, YY易游平台frastructure and plant engYY易游平台eerYY易游平台g, machYY易游平台ery, construction equipment and real estate. YY易游平台 the year ended March 2001, Kobe Steel had consolidated sales of 1,198 billion yen (US.99 billion). The company has headquarters YY易游平台 Kobe and Tokyo, Japan. The automotive alumYY易游平台um sheet is supplied through Kobe Alcoa Transportation Products, Ltd., a 50/50 joYY易游平台t venture between Kobe Steel and Alcoa YY易游平台c. KATP produces and markets alumYY易游平台um sheet for the transportation YY易游平台dustry. Based YY易游平台 Tokyo, Japan, the company was established YY易游平台 1992. |
