Corus upgrades facility to meet Tubular Hydroform contract for Discovery 3
02 Mar 2005
Corus, the international metals company, has announced that it has invested significantly to upgrade its precision tubes facility in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands, following confirmation that it has secured Europe’s largest single automotive hydroformed tube contract.
The major, long-term contract will see Corus continue to supply its high quality precision tubes to specialist German hydroformer Finow Automotive Eberswaldle, based in Berlin. Finow Automotive in turn supply hydroformed components to Chassis Systems Ltd (CSL), based in Telford, UK, the joint venture business created by DANA and GKN to produce the chassis for Land Rover’s highly acclaimed Discovery 3.
The demand for lighter component solutions remains a primary driver in the automotive industry. Tube hydroforming is one of the new enabling technologies that has the capacity to deliver cost effective mass reduced solutions and is increasingly being used by vehicle manufacturers. As demonstrated by the international steel industry’s ULSAB-AVC Advanced Vehicle Concepts programme, hydroforming can be used by automotive engineers as a way to optimise future car designs with fewer components, helping to increase the strength and stiffness of critical parts, while contributing to reduced vehicle weight and therefore lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The investment at Zwijndrecht underlines Corus’s commitment to meet this growing demand from the automotive industry.
Commenting on the investment, Hugo de Zeeuw, business director, Corus Tubes Automotive and Engineering said: “The Corus Tubes business has been a major supplier of precision tubes to the automotive industry for use in applications such as seat head rests and axles for over twenty years. In addition, our tube facilities at Zwijndrecht and Arnhem have been supplying other high demand end-user businesses, such as the furniture industry for over eighty years.”
Mr de Zeeuw continued: “When CSL first approached us back in the late 1990’s they knew that we had the right mix of tubes expertise, materials knowledge and relevant applications know-how to develop precision tubes with larger dimensions needed to meet the specific requirements for the hydroformed chassis components for the new Land Rover Discovery 3. Working closely with CSL, we undertook feasibility and evaluation studies until the right grade of steel and tube size was met.”
Mr Zeeuw concludes: “Following the successful launch of the Discovery 3, the investment at Zwijndrecht will ensure that we are able to continue to supply the high volumes of quality precision tubes required for this major contract. Importantly, the upgrade will allow us to manage the expected growth in business as we begin talking to other vehicle manufactures that are becoming increasingly aware of the cost and weight benefits of using tube hydroforming technology.”
The strip steel used to make the precision tubes at the Zwijndrecht mill will be supplied from Corus’ Strip Product business located in nearby IJmuiden and forms an integral part of the supply chain solution.
The Corus Tubes Automotive and Engineering business has also recently acquired certification to the new ISO/TS 16949: 2002 quality approval standard. Until recently car manufacturers focussed on their own quality standards. TS 16949:2002 is a breakthrough in the automotive industry in that it represents a consensus amongst most of the world’s largest car makers and is a starting point in the harmonisation and globalisation of designer specified standards. Aimed primarily at Tier One suppliers TS 16949:2002 is a technical specification developed and supported by vehicle manufacturers in Europe, America and Japan and will help define quality system requirements for the global automotive supply chain.
Note to editors:
Corus Automotive
Corus is one of the leading suppliers of steel products, services and technology to the automotive industry. A broad range of Corus steel from strip, engineering steels, special strip and tubes are used to make products that go into automotive applications including body-in-white, closures, chassis and suspension systems, powertrain, seats, safety systems and other components. Corus is committed to the global automotive industry, and, uniquely, combines its materials and vehicle engineering knowledge to respond cost-effectively to key drivers of importance to the sector, such as safety, fuel-efficiency, innovation and the environment. The Company actively supports supply chain initiatives that improve efficiency and enhance the value of steel used in automotive applications. For further information, view the Corus automotive website (www.corusautomotive.com).
Corus
Corus Group Plc (LSE/AEX: CS; NYSE: CGA) is one of the world's largest metal producers with an annual turnover of £8 billion and major operating facilities in the U.K., the Netherlands, Germany, France, Norway and Belgium. Corus' four divisions comprising Strip Products, Long Products, Distribution & Building Systems and Aluminium provide innovative solutions to the construction, automotive, packaging, mechanical engineering and other markets worldwide. Corus has 48,500 employees in over 40 countries and sales offices and service centres worldwide. Combining international expertise with local customer service, the Corus brand represents quality and strength.
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Corus Automotive media enquiries:
Marco Ferrari +44 (0)207 494 8050 mferrari@automotivepr.com
Laurissa Mirabelli + 44 (0)207 494 8050 lmirabelli@automotivepr.com
