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COVER STORY INTERVIEW

What kind of progress have you seen in the automotive materials from every angle in Electric vehicles feature a compact motor,
development of rolled aluminium products our pursuit of materials with greater but they also have to carry large and heavy
in the last few years? strength and excellent formability. The lithium-ion batteries. That demands a drastic
Against the background of the trend towards development of processing technology and change in the vehicle’s body structure. To
reducing vehicle weight, the drastically CAE analysis are, of course, essential for match that demand, attention has turned to
growing demand for aluminium sheets for that. Right now, our hottest research theme the use of aluminium extruded materials,
the body panels of mass-produced cars. is joining technologies, such as how to join and the development of the appropriate
Following customer requests from all over dissimilar materials and materials with utilization technology is underway.
the world, especially North America, where different thicknesses.
demand is expanding, UACJ has been What are the future plans of the UACJ
consolidating its production system to What kind of R&D results have Automotive Materials Research Dept.?
provide high-quality aluminium alloy sheet. you had for automotive materials? Well, there’s a recent trend towards the use
Regarding aluminium alloy sheet for of multi-materials, which means finding the
Could you tell us about the R&D Division? automotive materials, we were one of the right material for the right application, and
It consists of a group of about 300 expert first manufacturers in Japan to start working the presence of aluminium is growing day by
researchers, the largest number in the world on the development of the 6000 series day. Of course, we only have a short history
in the rolled aluminium industry. They carry aluminium alloy sheet for body panels, and as UACJ, and our company name hasn’t fully
out the development of aluminium alloys we now produce and market aluminium penetrated yet, but we’re eagerly moving
and processing technology, analysis alloy sheet featuring the world’s top level of ahead with the desire to develop and supply
technology (simulations), and joining hemmability. As for extruded products for the optimum materials for automotive parts
technology, as well as the technological automotive use, we’ve developed the 7000 together with our customers, based on our
development of surface treatments and series, which displays excellent balance in world-leading R&D system and our extensive
production processes. extrusion performance, strength, weldability global production and supply system.
and corrosion resistance. Used for bumpers, We will be very happy to hear your requests
What kind of research is conducted it greatly contributes to body weight and ideas. Please contact us at UACJ.
for the automobile industry? reduction.
In the hope of helping to make vehicles Akio Niikura, Ph. D.
General Manager
lighter in order to reduce CO2 emissions, How have electric vehicles affected the Research Development VI
we’ve been conducting R&D on various development of aluminium rolled products? UACJ R&D Division

COMPANY OVERVIEW - UACJ Corporation

The largest manufacturer of aluminium rolled products in
Japan. The UACJ Research and Development Division consists
of a group of about 300 expert researchers, the largest number
in the world in the rolled aluminium industry. UACJ is actively
involved in the R&D of aluminium materials as well as the
technological development required for promoting their
utilization. And UACJ has an extensive global network system
to supply products worldwide.
Core members of the Automotive Materials Research Dept.

CORPORATE NAME UACJ Corporation
HEADQUARTERS Tokyo Sankei Bldg., 1-7-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan

Manufacture and sales of rolling products, extrusions, casting products, forged
PRINCIPAL BUSINESS products and precision-machined products of nonferrous metals, including
aluminium and copper, and alloys thereof.

CAPITAL 52,277 million yen (approx 463 million U.S. dollars) The UACJ Research and Development Division
Location: Nagoya, Aichi Pref., Japan

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