ArcelorMittal, Honda and Magna’s Cosma International announced that a joint nomination for the 2014 Automotive News PACE Awards was selected as the winner in the ‘Manufacturing Process and Capital Equipment’ category for the industry’s first laser-welded, hot-stamped door ring in the 2014 Acura MDX.
Winners were announced at the 20th annual Automotive News PACE Awards ceremony on 7 April at The Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit. The PACE Awards celebrate automotive suppliers’ innovations in products, manufacturing processes and information technology, according to Automotive News.
Working from Honda’s design, the innovation encompassed three-years of technology development and collaboration among the partners. The award-winning door ring – a key part of the body structure that gives automobiles their strength and shape – sets a new standard in comparison to conventional multi-piece, spot-weld designs. The ultimate result after hot-stamping is a lighter, stronger body structure that translates to better fuel economy and safety ratings for consumers.
