ThyssenKrupp develops new aluminum/carbon fiber composite wheels

Reproduced on a large-scale non-ferrous metal network: German steel company ThyssenKrupp announced that it will cooperate with wheel manufacturer Maxion to develop new aluminum/carbon fiber composite wheels and use new materials to significantly reduce the weight of wheels for the high-end automotive market . Thyssen has many years of experience in automotive parts, carbon fiber and other light materials, and Maxion has mastered advanced technology in wheel manufacturing. The cooperation between the two can certainly get the high quality products that meet the market demand and the right price.

Aluminum/carbon fiber composite wheels are expected to reduce wheel weight by 40% on the basis of pure aluminum, while the processing performance has been improved, and the joint development team of Thyssen and Maxion will try to meet the customer's special needs solutions.

Some luxury brands or sports brand cars that use aluminum/carbon fiber composite wheels can make these cars significantly different in technology and design from other products. For Thyssen, cooperation with Maxion is also of epoch-making significance. This will be a perfect combination of carbon fiber manufacturing technology and wheel manufacturing technology. Carbon fiber materials will be more applied to wheel manufacturing in the future.

Thyssen's carbon fiber uses special weaving techniques. The joint team has already provided wheels samples for a number of luxury car brands. The testing will be conducted at Maxion's experimental center. In addition, the joint team also collaborated with Volkswagen Automotive to test the performance of wheels running on the actual highway. The test results were satisfactory, and both the shock absorption and the reduction of road noise were greatly improved.

The joint team will continue research and development to further improve the performance of this composite wheel. Maxion also plans to introduce its pioneering liquid forging aluminum sheet technology, which can reduce the forging costs of the wheel while maintaining the same performance.

Kai Kronenberg, vice president of business development and international innovation at Maxion, said that the introduction of this aluminum/carbon fiber composite wheel will bring changes to the light-weight car market. Auto manufacturers will benefit from this, and Maxion’s leading position in the industry. It will be further consolidated. In addition to research and development, the joint team will also work to promote the promotion of new wheels in the automotive manufacturing market.