Automotive Circle International

Joining technology between the conflicting priorities of process
diversity and standardisation

The future belongs to lightweight and mixed constructions. However, using successful combinations of materials effectively calls for appropriate joining technologies which meet the requirements of the joining process itself in car body production. It is cruicial in terms of car body behaviour.

'Cold' processes, such as adhesive bonding in addition to mechanical joining as well as innovative thermal processes, provide important solutions for bonding even heat-sensitive materials. Furthermore, lightweight materials arembeing developed, which can be joined using conventional thermal processes. At the same time there is a need for standardised production processes with great process-robustness to prevent the wide variety of technologies leading to a dramatic escalation in car body engineering costs - 'globally standardised production processes that maintain consistent quality' is the watchword here. Then there is the energy effi ciency aspect of the production process to consider.

It is against this background that the three-day specialist conference on Joining Technology in Car Body Engineering due to take place in Bad Nauheim between 17 and 19 April 2012 will once again gather together the leading international network of OEMs and system suppliers in car body engineering. The aim will be to discuss the latest progress reports and innovations in all the joining processes relevant to series car body production in practice, on the basis of presentations from experts and an exhibition of the latest models.

International OEM Board
Dr. Klaus Koglin, Audi AG, DE
Dr. Udo Hänle, BMW AG, DE
Michael Ruther Daimler AG, DE
Manuel Lai Centro Ricerche FIAT, IT
Dr. Thomas Rudlaff, Daimler AG, DE
Dr. Antonio Fuganti, Centro Ricerche FIAT, IT
Dr. Ludger Wienand, Ford-Werke GmbH, DE
Hajime Watanabe, Honda R&D Co., Ltd., JP
Dr. Kiyokazu Mori, Nissan Motors Co., Ltd., JP
Kurt-Peter Manns, Adam Opel GmbH, DE
Marc Loigerot, PSA Peugeot Citroën S.A.S., FR
Marie-Thérèse Vacher, Renault SAS, FR
Hiroaki Iwamoto, Toyota Motor Corp., JP
Johnny K. Larsson, Volvo Car Corp., SE
Dr. Martin Goede, Volkswagen AG, DE

Conference Chairs:

Module 1: Adhesive bonding and hybrid bonding (17/18 April 2012)

Prof. Klaus Dilger,
Institute for Joining and Welding Technology, Technical University of Brunswick, DE
Prof. Christian Lammel
IFF GmbH - Induction, Joining Technology and Production Technology, DE

Module 2: Thermal and mechanical joining technology (18/19 April 2012)

Professor Dr. Stefan Böhm,
Institute for Production Technology and Logistics, University of Kassel, DE
Andrea Huber,
Automotive Circle International, DE

PLUS
Conference tutorials on 16 April 2012

Tutorial 1: Adhesive bonding technologies

Tutorial 2: Thermal and mechanical joining technologies (only in german language!)

Two tutorials on "Adhesive bonding technologies" and "Thermal and mechanical joining technologies" provide newcomers to the field with the opportunity to review the fundamentals as well as the applicability of the different joining methods used in today's automotive production, in this way offering an optimal preparation for the high-level presentations in the main conference.

The tutorials address

Engineers in development, process planning and production, requiring a fundamental overview on joining technologies
Young engineers with relatively few experiences in such technologies
Technical experts facing new tasks and therefore needing to intensify their knowledge on specific joining technologies

Please note that the tutorials and the main conference modules are separate events. An advanced registration for the tutorials is mandatory, as the number of participants is limited.

Tutorial 1 + 2 will also be held in german language!

Participating companies:
(as of: 27.03.2012)

Adam Opel AG, DE
Aisin Europe S.A, BE
AMAG Austria Metall AG, AU
Aperam site d`Isbergues, FR
Aston Martin, GB
Audi AG, DE
Autotech Engineering, AIE, ES
Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH, DE
Bentley Motors Limited, GB
Bertrandt Ingenieurbüro GmbH, DE
Blechformwerke Bernsbach GbmH, DE
BMW AG, DE
BMW Group, DE
Bostik GmbH, DE
Centro Ricerche Fiat S.C.p.A., IT
Cimos d.d., SL
Daimler AG, DE
Daimler Buses Evobus GmbH, DE
Dow Automotive Systems, DE
Dow Europe GmbH, CH
Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG, DE
EDAG GmbH & Co. KGaA, DE
EJOT GmbH & Co. KG, DE
Emhart Teknologies Tucker GmbH, DE
Evonik Industries AG, DE
F.W. Brökelmann Aluminiumwerk GmbH & Co. KG, DE
Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, PT
FIAT Tofas Turk Otomoty AS, TR
Ford-Werke GmbH, DE
Fraunhofer IFAM, DE
Freudenberg Forschungsinstitut KG, DE
Harms & Wende GmbH & Co.KG, DE
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung GmbH, DE
Helsinki Metrorolina University of Applied Sciences, FI
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA., DE
Honda R&D Americas, INC, USA
IFF GmbH, DE
Ingenieurbüro für Lasertechnik und Verschleißschutz, DE
Kirchhoff Gruppe, DE
Linde AG, DE
Lord Germany GmbH, DE
MAN Truck & Bus, DE
Nippon Steel Corporation, JP
Novelis Switzerland SA, CH
Profil Verbindungstechnik, DE
Promatek Research Centre, CA
PSTproducts GmbH, DE
PSW Automotive Engineering GmbH, DE
Renault, FR
Riftec GmbH, DE
Rücker GmbH, DE
SCA Schucker GmbH & Co. KG, DE
Schmittenberg GmbH & Co. KG, DE
Seat, S.A, ES
Siemens AG, DE
Sika Schweiz AG, CH
SIKA Schweiz AG, DE
Sika Technology AG, CH
Skoda Auto a.s., CZ
Sodecia, PT
STADCO Saarlouis Ltd. & Co. KG, DE
Suisse Technology Partners AG, DE
Technische Universität Dresden, DE
Thyssen Krupp Drauz Nothelfer GmbH, DE
ThyssenKrupp System Engineering, DE
ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks GmbH, DE
Trumpf Laser- und Systemtechnik, DE
TU Braunschweig, Institut f. Füge- u. Schweisstechnik, DE
TU Clausthal, DE
Universität Kassel, Institut f. Produktionstechnik und Logistik, DE
University West, SE
voestalpine Polynorm BV, AU
voestalpine Stahl GmbH, AT
Volkswagen AG, DE
Volkswagen Poznan SP. Z.O.O, PL
Westfalia Presstechnik GmbH & Co KG
Wilhelm Böllhoff GmbH & Co. KG, DE