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Magna Adds Twist to Welding
Magna International Inc. has begun using a new torsional welding process that the company says can reduce the cost and weight of joining plastic parts.
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Magna International Inc. has begun using a new torsional welding process that the company says can reduce the cost and weight of joining plastic parts.
The process, developed at Magna’s exteriors plant in Liberec, Czech Republic, uses a high-speed twisting motion. The system creates enough friction heat to join a plastic bracket to a thermoplastic fascia, according to the supplier.
Magna introduced the torsional welding technique on the front fascia of the 2017 Skoda Octavia hatchback in Europe. The technology enables the use of thinner materials, yielding a 10% weight reduction and lower costs.
Magna envisions a range of other applications in which similar materials are joined. This includes using torsional welding to keep the weight down in vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems, which otherwise would likely become heavier as more sensors are added.
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