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Evolving aluminium joining technologies job include LSW, SPR, FSW, FSSW, and New Lexus LS500
New Lexus LS has the latest structure, The aluminium alloy doors of the laser welding. Tailored blanks are also For the new LS body,
Lexus LS are a showcase for joining
used. The materials technology, forming
uses a considerable amount of technologies. In addition to the technology and joining technology aluminium alloys are used for
the bonnet, trunk lid, front
established through the manufacture of
hemming which is regularly used for
fender, suspension tower,
the outer and inner panels, the the aluminium alloy doors for the LS bumper beams and doors.
Aluminium Alloy. appropriate technologies used for each will be applied to future models.

Inner Panel Outer Panel

Advanced aluminium technologies for consolidating its production system to the world’s top level of hemmability.
the automobiles of the future provide high-quality aluminium alloy As for extruded products for automotive
Against the background of the trend sheet. use, UACJ has developed the new 7000
The weight of automobiles affects cruising distance, so the main merit of using aluminium for automobiles is its towards reducing vehicle weight, there Regarding aluminium alloy sheet for series, which displays excellent balance in
effect on vehicle weight reduction. Aluminium is excellent in terms of strength and ductility, but it cannot match is a drastically growing demand for automotive materials, UACJ was the extrusion performance, strength,
steel in ease of forming because of its inferiority in elongation and shape-freezing properties. aluminium sheets for the body panels first manufacturer in Japan to start weldability and corrosion resistance.
of mass-produced cars. Following working on the development of the The performance required for bumpers is
The new LS has the latest structure that uses a considerable amount of aluminium alloy in the outer panels, and customer requests from all over the 6000 series aluminium alloy sheet for becoming very high.
Used for bumpers, the 7000 series alloys
world, especially North America, where
body panels, and we now produce and
ultra-high tensile strength steel in the frame. In addition to the bonnet, trunk lid and front fender, aluminium is used demand is expanding, UACJ has been market aluminium alloy sheet featuring greatly contribute to body weight reduction.
for the doors. The application of aluminium has reduced the total body weight by 25% compared to the previous
all-steel model, and because the car has four doors, there is an even greater effect on weight reduction.

COMPANY OVERVIEW - UACJ Corporation
Kazuhisa Shibue In general, the inner door panel has a when considering changing to
complicated structure, so 5000 series one-piece aluminium inner door
Center President, R&D Division,
Senior Managing Executive Officer, alloys are frequently used because of panels, because of its inferior
Member of the Board their high formability. formability and shape-freezing UACJ’s next-generation aluminium technology
UACJ Corporation
In consideration of dent resistance, properties. Most European
6000 series alloys are used for the carmakers have stamping lines with At the UACJ Research & Development Division, comprehensive developments
on automobile materials, including aluminium alloy materials, optimization of
outer door panels. However, Toyota five to six processes, but Japanese surface treatment and processing are being carried out.
decided to use 6000 series for both carmakers have production facilities
Akio Niikura, Ph.D.
the inner and outer panels of the new with four processes. One drawing
General Manager, LS. Other carmakers produce inner process is sufficient for steel, but Corporate Name UACJ Corporation
Development Department II & III,
Research & Development Division, panels in three parts, but the LS aluminium requires two. This Headquarters Tokyo Sankei Bldg., 1-7-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
UACJ Corporation panels are formed as single pieces. means that other processing has to
This is largely a result of Toyota’s be carried out by the remaining two Principal Manufacture and sales of aluminium rolled products, extrusions, cast products,
excellent stamping technology, with processes. The high-level stamping Business forged products, precision-machined components and copper tubing.
aluminium manufacturer UACJ’s technology which forms aluminium Capital 52,277 million yen (approx 463 million U.S. dollars) Core members of the Automobile Materials Research Dept.
backstage support. in four processes has been
Spring-back emerges as a problem developed by Toyota Motor.
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