Ford Motor Company has been committed to sustainable manufacturing and energy efficient automotive solutions for many years. The December 2, 2015 Ford press release reinforces continued commitment to socially responsible manufacturing solutions now and in the future.
There are three key areas driving the sustainability strategy and overall emissions reduction. They include:
- Engine recycling
- Recycle old engines for future use by utilizing a Ford-patented plasma coating technology, reducing CO2 emissions by 50%.
- Lightweighting
- By using innovative materials such as carbon fiber composites and lightweight metals, vehicles can be made with stronger, lighter materials that with a more fuel efficient end product.
- Renewable materials
- Certain vehicle interior components have been created with renewable resources such as plants and plastics made from plant materials.
Ford is working in partnership with DowAksa to reduce the energy needed to produce carbon fiber components, cut the cost of raw materials and develop recycling processes. Juergen Wesemann, manager, Vehicle Technologies and Materials, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering provided context for the impact of the materials innovation. “This opportunity builds upon Ford’s current joint development agreement with Dow Chemical and accelerates our timeline to introduce carbon fiber composites into high-volume applications,” Wesemann said. “This collaboration helps us accelerate our efforts to create lighter automotive-grade composite materials that benefit customers by enabling improved fuel economy without sacrificing strength.”
IACMI- The Composite Institute’s partners continue to collaborate and innovate. The future of composites is now.