Feb 24 2006
Alcoa has announced that Hyundai Motor Manufacturing America (HMMA) will use an Alcoa cast aluminum rear upper control arm for the Korean automakers all-new 2007 Santa Fe crossover vehicle. The 2007 Santa Fe made its North American debut recently during the 2006 North American International Auto Show. It is the first Alcoa component to be used by Hyundai Automotive. The Santa Fe combines the best attributes of an SUV with the driving character of a mid-size sedan.
"Alcoa Automotive Castings is excited about the use of our products on a Hyundai key structural component and looks forward to strengthening our relationship in the future," said Misha Riveros-Jacobson, President, Alcoa Advanced Transportation Systems and Alcoa Automotive Castings. "This component is produced using Alcoa's Vacuum Riser-less and Pressure Riser-less (VRC/PRC) permanent mold castings process. VRC/PRC permanent mold casting is a superior technology that produces high quality structural castings."
The VRC/PRC process produces higher mechanical properties compared to conventional permanent mold processes. The improved mechanical properties allow for lighter designs (yielding at least a 40% mass reduction when compared with a fabricated steel design) and improved performance. VRC/PRC can also manufacture hollow designs creating thin-walled castings, which allows an additional 30% reduction compared to solid aluminum designs. Alcoa received casting of the year on the hollow design in 2004 from the American Foundry Society. Aluminum components improve vehicle ride and handling by reducing un-sprung mass.
The 2007 Santa Fe will be built at HMMA's new plant in Montgomery, Alabama. Production is schedule to begin in the second quarter of 2006, with vehicles arriving in dealerships during the summer.
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