The benefits of aluminum for weight reduction and fuel savings in automotive applications have been well recognized for decades. The use of aluminum can reduce weight by 40 to 60 percent as compared to steel. The combination of low density, high strength and excellent corrosion resistance makes aluminum alloys attractive to the automotive industry and for thousands of applications outside the automotive industry. Recently, weight reduction and fuel economy have become greater foci among automakers, consumers and government regulators. As worldwide auto sales continue to lag, automotive-stamping suppliers are attempting to diversify by pursuing new customers in non-automotive markets. As a result, many contract manufacturers and tool and die shops accustomed to working primarily with steel stampings may find themselves confronted with aluminum products and their processes. Hopefully, the information presented here will prove helpful to anyone forming aluminum for the first time.
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