The partnership will be providing structural light-weighting solutions that increase fuel economy while maintaining vehicle safety.
The companies will provide composite body, chassis and other structural components to the automotive industry. Albany Engineered Composites has demonstrated expertise in the design and manufacture of composite parts noted for their impact and damage tolerance in the aerospace market. Ricardo will collaborate with Albany Engineered Composites to grow the use of proven advanced aerospace composites within the global automotive industry.
Under the terms of the deal the two companies will explore the use of AEC technologies like 3D composites to provide the stiffness, strength, durability and energy absorption necessary to lightweight applications such as crash structures. Often these structures are made of metal and are difficult to replace with a lighter weight materials while maintaining performance requirements. The synergies available from the AEC-Ricardo collaboration will be particularly attractive to automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers that want to reduce body and chassis mass, while also maintaining vehicle structural and safety performance.