Auto manufacturers
have been exploring the trend of lightweighting to help reduce vehicle weight
in order to meet new efficiency standards. Many automakers such as Ford are looking to
replace steel bodies with aluminum bodies, first with its F-150 pickup, and now
on to other vehicles as well. Toyota has also
announced that it will use aluminum in its high-volume models as early as 2016.
Other materials under increasing consideration include magnesium as well as
plastics.
With this trend,
extensive testing is critical. Engineers must ensure that these new materials
are as strong and durable as traditional ones, while preserving or enhancing
the driving dynamics of the vehicle. At Mark-10, our range of force and torque
measurement products may be used for a variety of important tests, such as
tensile, break, three-point bend, torsion, and others. Mark-10 systems are
modular and can be configured via a wide range of force and
torque gauges, test stands, attachments, and software. Our systems are widely
used in the automotive manufacturing industry, as well as aerospace, packaging,
medical device, and other areas.
