FOCUS ON STAMPING
Lucid Air won the 2022 MotorTrend Car of the Year , the first instance in which the initial product from a new automotive brand has been awarded the “ Golden Calipers ”.
Running in parallel was an intensive project at the Achern facility to prepare for installation of the new line and auxiliary equipment such as that needed for 3D trimming , ageing and cleaning . A new industrial building was built just to make room .
“ We also oversaw procurement of raw material . Although it was challenging , the result was a success and the line was transferred from Ulricehamn to Achern during the summer and commissioned in December 2021 ,” added Junge .
The future of sustainable mobility
When Lucid Air , one of the most technically sophisticated electric cars in the world , began customer deliveries in October 2021 there was good reason to celebrate not only at Lucid ’ s global headquarters in Newark , California , but also in Achern and Ulricehamn .
“ The collaboration between Lucid , AP & T and the fischer Group was a huge success - an innovative and promising technology was transformed into a commercially viable solution . This solution unlocks opportunities for the whole automotive industry when it comes to reducing weight and improving safety ,” explained AP & T .
Following the successful launch , Lucid Air has continued to be in high demand , only serving to increase the demand for hot-formed , high-strength aluminium components .
“ Now it ’ s a matter of further optimising the production process and increasing production volumes , which will also have a positive impact on the bottom line ,” said Robert Walton , Director of Purchasing , Lucid .
To meet Lucid ’ s needs , fischer has farreaching plans to start manufacturing highstrength aluminium parts using innovative aluminium forming technologies near Lucid ’ s Casa Grande , Arizona , facility in the USA .
“ It is amazing to be part of Lucid ’ s exciting journey and to know that our three companies could work together to bring to fruition the first industrial-scale application of this forming technology in the world ,” outlined Stefan Geißler .
“ As an established partner to many players in the automotive industry , we are enabling the development of a more sustainable transportation sector with safer , more energy-efficient vehicles that have a lower environmental impact . This time we are doing
it with an innovative technology in collaboration with a forward-looking car manufacturer . That ’ s huge !” concluded Dr . Christian Koroschetz . n
About AP & T
Swedish press specialist AP & T offers turnkey solutions for fibre and sheetmetal forming . Its global portfolio includes complete production lines with presses ; automation ; tools ; heattreatment systems and services such as maintenance ; spare-part provision ; optimisation and rebuilds .
It has been developing production solutions for the sheet-metal forming industry for over 50 years .
Thorsten Junge , Head of Business Development , fischer Hydroforming ( left ) presented new aluminium hot-forming technology at EURO CAR BODY 22 in Bad Nauheim .
About the fischer group
The fischer group is a medium-sized , 50-year-old family business with a global presence . In 2020 , it made a decision to enter the new business area of aluminium hot forming and a new state-of-the-art production facility was built for this purpose at its home base in the Baden town of Achern in Germany .
The fischer group is represented in eight countries around the world with a total of ten manufacturing sites . It generated global sales of approximately 750 million euros in 2021 , with over 2800 employees .
ISMR December 2022 / January 2023 |
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