EDAG, along with nine European partners, has developed a new hybrid joining process which will make the production of lightweight components for the automotive industry more efficient.
In the EU research project, FlexHyJoin, weight-optimised combinations of steel and thermoplastic polymer composites were produced in a fully automatic manufacturing cell.
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EDAG says this was carried out without the use of any adhesives or mechanical joining elements during the fusion of extremely different materials.
“In terms of cost and production time savings, the advantages of this hybrid joining technology are considerable,” said an EDAG statement. “In addition, lighter components in the automotive industry reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of vehicles and thus have a positive effect on the environment.
“In an application demonstrator, a 40% weight-saving potential compared to the reference construction method in steel was produced and the suitability of the FlexHyJoin technology for mass production was demonstrated at the same time.
“A roof reinforcement made of continuous glass fibre-reinforced polyamide 6 with metal connecting elements was joined in the fully automatic manufacturing cell. The new hybrid joining technology has the potential to become an important basis for new mobility concepts and, for example, to help establish lightweight design in eMobility.”
EDAG also sees opportunities for using FlexHyJoin technology as a lightweight solution for exterior and interior components.
