Released: August 30th, 2006
Meridian Technologies, the technology leader in the development of new magnesium applications to further reduce vehicle weight and increase fuel economy, handling and performance, is proud to announce that the Corvette Z06 Magnesium Engine Cradle has won its fourth award. The United States Department of Energy has presented Meridian Technologies with the Recognition Award for the 2001-2006 United States Automotive Materials Partnership (USAMP)/DOE “Structural Cast Magnesium Development Project”. This project also included contributions from Ford and Daimler-Chrysler, and General Motors.
The mission of this project was to develop component manufacturing and durability solutions that expand magnesium’s automotive lightweight opportunities and apply technology to a magnesium engine cradle to meet the Z06 vehicle performance requirements with a 35% weight savings versus the original aluminum design. Meridian was able to achieve these targets along with the added benefits of 50/50 front to rear weight distribution for the vehicle, and single piece component integration, allowing modular sub-system build. The engine cradle’s high ductility, low creep AE44 alloy, developed by Hydro Magnesium, provides the high temperature capability required to withstand the demands of a vehicle designed for use at the racetrack.
This innovation/application demonstrates the viability of magnesium alloys for use in chassis structures, an area for which magnesium components have not traditionally been used or considered. Applications in this area are expected to grow in excess of ten fold over the next 4 to 5 years in North America for magnesium.