Magna Puts a New Twist on Welding

• First use of torsional welding for automotive fascias
• Joins thinner materials, aids lightweighting and addition of sensors
• Recognized with innovation award by the Society of Plastics Engineers

TROY, MI, Oct. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Magna has put a new twist on joining thermoplastic materials in order to help automakers cut weight and costs: torsional welding.

The torsional welding process, developed by Magna for automotive applications at its exteriors plant in Liberec, Czech Republic, presents a new way to join plastics. It features a high-speed twisting motion that creates enough friction-based heat to join a plastic bracket to a thermoplastic fascia.

The innovative technology achieves an approximate 10 percent weight reduction because it allows thinner materials to be joined, which in turn reduces material costs. Torsional welding is currently used to make the front fascia of the 2017 Skoda Octavia, and it has potential for other applications where materials of similar composition need to be joined.

There may also be uses for torsional welding with the increase of advanced driver assistance systems and the development of self-driving cars. The trend will be for automotive fascias to become heavier with the increase in autonomous features, due to the addition of sensors. With torsional welding, it's now possible to reduce weight on the outer skin and brackets so more sensors can be added without impacting the overall weight of the vehicle.

The Society of Plastics Engineers Detroit Chapter recognized Magna's torsional welding process with an innovation award at its recent TPO conference in Troy, Mich.

"We seek every opportunity, from design and materials to enabling technologies, to help customers meet their lightweighting goals," said Magna Exteriors President Grahame Burrow. "We appreciate this recognition from SPE and look forward to expanding the use of this innovative process."

TAGS
Automotive exterior products, automotive exterior systems, automotive exterior innovation, award-winning automotive exteriors, automotive welding, thermoplastics

ABOUT MAGNA
We are a leading global automotive supplier with 327 manufacturing operations and 100 product development, engineering and sales centres in 29 countries. We have over 161,000 employees focused on delivering superior value to our customers through innovative products and processes, and world class manufacturing. We have complete vehicle engineering and contract manufacturing expertise, as well as product capabilities which include body, chassis, exterior, seating, powertrain, active driver assistance, vision, closure and roof systems and have electronic and software capabilities across many of these areas. Our common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MG) and the New York Stock Exchange (MGA). For further information about Magna, visit our website at www.magna.com.

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SOURCE Magna International Inc.