Released: November 11th, 2005
A remarkable high pressure magnesium automotive diecasting has won UK Casting of the Year for 2005.
Measuring 436mm x 1577mm but, weighing only 5.4kg, the Land Rover, Range Rover Sport and Discovery 3 Front End Carrier manufactured by Meridian Technologies, replaces what would typically be a number of steel fabrications and fixings thus improving structural performance.
The first magnesium Front End carrier ever produced in Europe, the Meridian casting offers substantial under bonnet assembly benefits for Land Rover, reducing production line length and providing a single geometrically stable component with cast in locators for integrating headlamps, grills, trim, bumpers and other front end components.
“This component is the result of 3½ years of collaboration between Land Rover and ourselves. By working closely together the team has created a technologically-advanced, highly-integrated, high-performance component at a competitive cost,” said Mick Buxton, Plant Manager at Meridian Technologies. “To win the UK Casting of the Year Award against such strong competition is a recognition of the excellence of this component and, in the words of the judges, ‘shows what can be achieved by close collaboration between casting company and customer.”
Manufactured from Magnesium AM60B, which has a much higher strength/weight ratio than steel or, to a lesser extent, aluminium, the component removes weight from the vehicle allowing additional options and powered features to be added.
“This is a very special casting,” said John Parker, Chief Executive of the Cast Metals Federation, which represents the whole of the UK cast metals sector. “Meridian is a shining example of the excellent casting expertise and capability that we have here in the UK, and points the way forward for ensuring a long term thriving, technology-based casting industry in this country. It is a worthy winner.”
This success was Meridian’s second victory in succession in the UK Casting of the Year Category with victory in 2004 with a magnesium instrument panel for the same vehicle.