As magnesium prices fall below aluminium prices, it presents a great opportunity for the magnesium industry and is more conducive to expanding downstream applications such as large components in vehicles, integrated die-cast magnesium alloy large components for automobiles, robots, and construction templates, further enhancing downstream customers’ enthusiasm for using magnesium. Previously, we promoted magnesium applications from a performance perspective; now, we can promote them even more from a cost perspective.

Luca Greco, a blogger in the USA, who writes a weekly newsletter about all things gigacasting and magnesium thixomoulding has reported that Wuling Motors Holdings successfully completed the initial trial production of a magnesium alloy instrument panel cross beam bracket (CCB).

Utilising a magnesium thixomoulding machine, the trial product measures over 1.5 metres in length, with an injection weight exceeding 8kg, resulting in a finished CCB weighing just 4.6kg.

Thixomoulding is a semi-solid magnesium injection moulding process where magnesium alloy chips are heated and sheared until they become dough-like, then injected into a mould. This technique offers advantages like thinner walls, tighter tolerances, and better metallurgical properties compared to traditional die casting, making it suitable for various industries like automotive, medical, and electronics.

Wuling Motors Holdings Limited is publicly listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company become the first Chinese vehicle manufacturer to produce 30 million vehicles. The milestone model, a Wuling Xing Guang S SUV, rolled off the assembly line this morning at the world’s first lean intelligent manufacturing (LIM) plant in Liuzhou, Guangxi, China.