By: Silke Pflueger
Laserline Inc., Santa Clara, CA
Why is Aluminum Welding such a Hot Topic?
New CAFE standards demanding an average fleet gas mileage of 54.5 mpg by 2025 will not only require radical engine improvements, but also drastically weight reduced cars. Using aluminum instead of steel can decrease the weight of a car body up to 50%, as shown in the Audi A8, which was 239 kg lighter than its steel predecessor when it was introduced in 1994.
Joining aluminum initially represented quite a challenge, but is now mainly solved with riveting, MIG welding, and to a large extent by laser welding, enabled by new laser technologies.
