“Multi-material designs : the new rules in automotive industry.”
![](https://www.gaming-engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/multi-materials-assemblies.jpg)
![](https://www.gaming-engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/multi-materials1.png)
Main targets:
Light weight & Mass reduction:
- Low consumption,
- Reduction of emissions,
- Autonomy improvement (In particular of electric vehicles),
Structural reinforcement & Architecture evolutions,
- Dynamic performances improvement
- Adaptation to new safety standards,
Reduction of numbers of parts,
- By using plastic or composite parts which enable to replace several metallic pieces into one
If the multi-material designs are a source of large optimization of the automotive performances, there implementation in practice is obstructed by technical assembly difficulties & economical issues.
The current fastening characteristics aren’t in line with automotive industry’s targets,
in particular the strong will of challenging the multi-material assembly …
_ without making big industrial investments,
_ without revolutionizing the organization of Body In White workshop.
ERWin
![](https://www.gaming-engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/erwin1.png)
Electric Resistance Welding INsert
Application:
Fastening solutions for multi-material
assemblies
ERWin +
![](https://www.gaming-engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/erwin-plus.jpg)
Electric Resistance Welding Insert With additional anchoring point
Application:
Fastening solutions for multimaterial assemblies & one-shot functionalization for lightweight composite parts
![](https://www.gaming-engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/lightweighting.jpg)
*
Composite materials: based on thermoplastic or thermosetting matrix, with long fibers reinforcement, structured or not.
**
Plastics: injected with no reinforcement or with short reinforcements.
***
New generations of steel with high performances.