FAGOR ARRASATE CHOSEN BY NOVELIS TO SUPPLY TWO TREATED ALUMINIUM CUT TO LENGTH LINES FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

NOVELIS is a world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling and after the opening of the China subsidiary, it will be the only supplier of automotive aluminium for: ASIA, EUROPE and NORTH AMERICA. The plant has received an investment of 100M USD in order to reach an annual capacity of 120,000 tonnes of high grade aluminium for car bodywork. Fagor Arrasate’s long and rewarding experience as a partner for the supply of finishing lines for the automotive industry, the narrow production tolerances and the most demanding of surface requirements obtained in its lines had played in FAGOR’s favour for being selected by NOVELIS.

An essential requirement in aluminium processing is the utmost care that must be provided in order to avoid any surface damage. This is especially important when blanks are to be employed for exposed car parts for the bodywork.

During recent years, there has been increased economic and political pressure to reduce the fuel consumption of vehicles and subsequent CO2 emissions. This circumstance has led to heightened efforts to lighten the weight of both the frame and bodywork of cars. In this regard, for years specific solutions have been developed based on the intensive application of aluminium, as it is a material that reduces weight without compromising safety. Some studies have indicated that the amount of aluminium being utilised in a car produced in Europe has almost tripled from between 1990 and 2012, from 50 kg to 140 kg. Based on these forecasts, this number will increase to 160 kg by 2020 and it may even possibly reach 180 kg if the small and medium car market segments continue in the same  direction as the bigger segments.

In economic terms, demand for aluminium automotive components has increased dramatically in recent years and it is expected to grow from $29bn in 2010 to $73bn in 2020. This trend will solidify as the quota of hybrid and electric vehicles increases, since they require a lighter configuration due to their technologies. Proportionately, the heaviest part of a car is the bodywork (up to 30% of total weight). Reducing the weight of the bodywork through the use of aluminium is a great opportunity for the industry. It is estimated that for every 10 percent reduction in weight it result in fuel savings of between 5 to 7 percent.