How will the supplier industry develop once the combustion engine becomes obsolete? Experts give the all-clear: Electric motors continue to rely on castings. Yet foundries and die-casting companies still need to prepare themselves for the transformation.

The leading car companies are preparing for the breakthrough of electric mobility: According to an analysis by Ernst & Young, the 16 largest car companies in the world have initiated 25 investment projects in the past two years.

The USA imposes punitive tariffs of 25 % on steel imports and ten percent on aluminium imports — the AMAG Group is expecting losses in the mid-single-digit million euro range. Meanwhile, VDA CEO Mattes calls for an "objective discussion".

A study conducted by the consulting firm PwC asked OEMs and suppliers which topics they consider to be most challenging. However, they place a great deal of hope on e-mobility — almost 40 % of the respondents consider electric mobility as a sales driver in the next five years.

Increased demands on additive manufacturing processes require modified aluminium and magnesium materials as the basis for rapid prototyping. Solutions-oriented casting technology becomes more important.

Heinrich Timm, member of the Management Board of Carbon Composites e. V. and for many years head of the Audi Lightweight Construction Centre, talks about the potential of holistic, systemic lightweight construction, its significance in e-mobility and why lightweight construction has a marketing problem.

Frank Venier from the Audi Lightweight Construction Centre started this year's "Automobil Industrie" Lightweight Summit with a keynote speech on the multi-material design of the new A8 and the fourth generation of the "Audi Space Frame".

A new 3D printing process allows astronauts to produce tools and spare parts quickly and easily on a space mission. The process is supposed to enable production in zero gravity.

Italy-based Zare, a leading Italian company in precision engineering, trusts the reliable and high-precision technology from SLM Solutions for manufacturing in the aerospace industry. The company from Boretto is expanding its machinery with an SLM 280 2.0.

India is emerging as the new hotspot destination in Asia for automobile companies to set up their manufacturing plants. With the assistance of strong government initiatives and business plans, the Indian manufacturing sector seems to be on the right track.

The automotive industry is going to be electric. But what does this mean for German suppliers of combustion engine manufacturers? Answers to this question are provided by a current study conducted by the IVG.

Magnesium die castings have an enormous field of application: Many different engineering disciplines benefit from the special material properties of this nonferrous metal.