Automotive manufacturers and their suppliers are pressing to innovate in order to increase vehicle fuel efficiency to meet federal CAFÉ guidelines by integrating lightweight materials into new vehicle designs. These lightweight materials pose unique challenges and opportunities that must be addressed. The solutions for some of these challenges may be found in other industries such as aerospace and defense or in new tools and processes.
The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) has assembled an innovative suite of software tools and cross industry innovators to help automobile OEMs, tier one suppliers, and component manufacturers realize the benefits of lightweight materials while lowering costs, minimizing risk, and speeding commercialization.
Through the use of High Performance Computing Simulation (HPCS) manufacturers will select the best lightweight materials for their products, during the design phase of development. The tools developed in this NCMS project, utilizing HPCS will allow companies of all sizes to use this cutting edge capability which in the past was cost prohibitive and generally not available.
NCMS has immediate project opportunities for companies who want to integrate lightweight materials into their product designs. The US Department of Energy, with the goal of helping the automotive industry to increase fuel efficiency, is sponsoring this groundbreaking program through the NCMS which has more than 20 years of management experience with projects of this magnitude and scope.
For more information please contact:
Senior Program Manager Steve Hale, 734-995-2195, stevenh@ncms.org
