Ferrari, FCA, Material Science Corporation, ZF, Alba Tooling & Engineering Automotive Management Consulting GmbH, csi entwicklungstechnik GmbH take top honours.
Altair, a global technology company providing solutions in product development, high-performance computing and data intelligence, has announced the winners of the 7th annual Altair Enlighten Award. The awards were presented this evening at the 2019 CAR Management Briefing Seminars Seminars (MBS).
“The winning products demonstrate the power of innovation and engineering disciplines to reduce vehicle weight and emissions,” said Richard Yen, senior vice-president, strategic solutions team and global automotive business of Altair.
Ferrari’s Portofino was the winner in the Full Vehicle, low-volume production category. Innovative design approaches and manufacturing processes were applied to achieve a much lighter and stiffer body-in-white structure. All the body-in-white and chassis components were redesigned and integrated to an even greater extent. The A-pillar, for example, now consists of just two pieces compared to 21 different components in previous models. Modern production technologies, most notably sand-casting which allows the creation of hollow components, allowed designers to create innovative forms that are lighter
Full vehicle, low-volume production category winner
Ferrari’s Portofino, weighing an impressive 80kg lighter, while being 35 per cent stiffer than the outgoing California T that it replaces, was the winner in the Full Vehicle, low-volume production category. The Portofino is designed to be driven daily, and converts in just 14 seconds from an authentic ‘berlinetta’ coupé to a drop-top, thanks to the retractable hard top system. It is significantly lighter than the outgoing model, thanks to the adoption of new components featuring innovative design developed by an extensive use of structural optimisation, innovative aluminium technologies and the use of cutting-edge production techniques. All the body-in-white and chassis components were redesigned and integrated to an even greater extent. The A-pillar, for example, now consists of just two pieces compared to 21 different components in previous models. Modern production technologies, most notably sand-casting which allows the creation of hollow components, allowed designers to create innovative forms that are lighter.
Full vehicle, high-production category winner
FCA’s 4th generation Jeep Wrangler, eliminated 92kg from the previous generation vehicle. It employs an advanced strategy of lightweight aluminium, sheet moulding compound (SMC) and high-strength steel. Technology highlights of its new design include a lightweight body system that shed 51kg (>12%), by strategically applied advanced lightweight materials to maximise customer value, comfort, safety, and convenience, as well as minimise manufacturing impact to bolster the benefit of lightweight material applications.
FCA’s 4th generation Jeep Wrangler, was the winner in the Full Vehicle, high-volume production category. An advanced multi-material strategy was implemented for lightweighting to save 92kg from the previous generation vehicle
Module category winner
ZF with its latest knee airbag (KnAB) design replaces the typical metal housing found in existing low mounted knee airbags by a fabric housing. This lightweight “Global Baseline Module” technology is based on a fabric housing and provides high-restraint performance capability while allowing significant weight reduction. With a weight reduction of 30 per cent, it is 20 per cent more compact, and a design that can be tailored for all specific customer needs and markets to help meet global safety test requirements and standards.
Enabling category winner
Material Sciences won top honours in the Enabling category for MSC Smart Steel, the first ever spot weldable low-density composite laminate to be used in a body application. MSC Smart Steel is a new multilayer steel laminate engineered as a direct substitute for vehicle body parts stamped from low carbon steel. The concept involves creating a three-layer laminate whereby the outer skins are steel, and the middle layer consists of a low-density conductive polymer core, which allows MSC Smart Steel to be stamped and spot welded – an industry first!
The Future of Lightweighting winner
The award for the Future of Lightweighting went to a feasibility study for #ULTRALEICHTBAUSITZ, a collaborative effort by Alba tooling and engineering, Automotive Management Consulting GmbH, and csi entwicklungstechnik GmbH. #ULTRALEICHTBAUSITZ aims to completely rethink car seat design from scratch through consequent use of cutting-edge generative technologies with the philosophy of ‘form follows force’. Their goal is to manufacture a comfortable and highly adaptable, yet ultra-lightweight vehicle seat prototype with a mass of about 10kg.
For a list of finalists and their innovations, please visit http://altairenlighten.com/award/
