A pair of robotic spot-welding lines, one at a General Motors plant and the other installed at a metal stamping facility, fabricates aluminum lift-gate assemblies for the Chevrolet Suburban sport-utility vehicle. Weld-schedule development, the use of high-end spot-welding equipment and controls and timely equipment maintenance ensure consistent weld integrity.In terms of materials, the big topic throughout the automotive industry is aluminum. The aluminum body-in-white of the Audi A2 and A8 has received a lot of press. In this country the Lincoln LS sedan contains several aluminum panels. And several manufacturers of low-volume luxury cars plan to use a considerable amount of aluminum in the near future.
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