Through a joint development agreement finalized in mid-June, Shiloh Industries Inc., Cleveland, OH, and Pullman Industries Inc., Troy, MI, will work together to provide automotive OEMs with complete subassemblies that will take advantage of the metalforming expertise residing within each company. Shiloh manufactures engineered and welded blanks, stamped components and modular assembilies; Pullman supplies components made by rollforming and stretch bending.In an interview with MetalForming, John Walker, vice president of technical and strategic planning for Shiloh, said that the companies are in the process of identifying several vehicle applications where the integration of rollformed and stamped parts, along with the use of tailor-welded-blank technology, would offer performance improvements. "We're also looking at two vehicle platforms for the 2004 model year where we may be able to jointly capitalize and staff a new separate manufacturing and assembly facility in order to offer rollforming, stamping and assembly under one roof," Walker said.
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