LIVEMAN

Advanced joining processes for lightweight vehicle manufacture

The EPSRC and DTI recently approved £2.2 million funding for a consortium to carry out basic research into welding and joining processes for the manufacture of lightweight vehicles. The LIVEMAN project is a unique opportunityto ensure vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers produce a new generation of lightweight vehicles in a cost-effective manner.

In their determination to remain competitive world-wide, UK vehicle manufactures require novel designs which achieve substantial weight savings. These are required to meet ever-increasing demands for greater fuel efficiency, highervehicle performance and lower emissions. New designs, based on use of high strength steels and non-metallic materials, will in turn impose greater demands on the welding and joining processes.

The programme is researching into six main topics:

• Laser welding of high strength steels for lightweight vehicles
• Process monitoring and control for welding automotive components
• Adhesive bonding of lightweight structures
• Joining processes for novel road vehicle structures
• On-line sensors for welding and joining
• Design and manufacture of components for lightweight vehicles

To find out more about this programme, contact Bill Lucas (e-mail: bill.lucas@twi.co.uk ).