New steels for vehicle fluid handling systems will help the automotive industry overcome existing and future environmental and technical challenges.

New steels to solve vehicle fluid handling New steels for vehicle fluid handling systems will help the automotive industry overcome existing and future environmental and technical challenges. Speaking today at the European Automotive Components Expo in Stuttgart, Guido Wolf, manager strategic marketing, Corus Special Strip, told delegates how innovative new steels from Corus for vehicle fluid handling systems will help the automotive industry overcome existing and future environmental and technical challenges. Addressing an audience of senior executives and technical managers, Wolf highlighted how Corus' range of advanced steel products help to address issues created by more stringent environmental legislation and the increasing trend towards engine downsizing.

Wolf told delegates that as a major material supplier to the automotive industry, Corus understands the pressure that vehicle and component manufacturers are under to meet recycling targets for the European End-of-Life Vehicles Directive.

In addition, he highlighted the global implications for carmakers of new legislation such as the Californian Partial Zero Emission Vehicle regulation (PZEV).

Vehicle manufacturers will increasingly need to consider regionally based legislation for global distribution of common platforms.

'Neotec, which is 100% recyclable, will help vehicle manufacturers meet the stringent recycling requirements of the ELV Directive, which requires material recovery or re-use rates of over 85% of the whole vehicle from 2006 and over 95% from 2015', commented Wolf.

In addition, fuel tanks made from Neotec are emission-free, allowing manufacturers to also meet the USA's Californian PZEV legislation.

Ford has already recognised the benefits of using Neotec, adopting the new material for its Ka and Street Ka models.

Sounding a warning note to delegates about the use of other materials, Wolf added: 'Even adapted plastics fuel tanks designed to reduce fuel evaporation will struggle to meet PZEV legislation and moreover will significantly increase manufacturing costs'.

' There is no evidence of any route for recycling multi-layered plastics fuel tanks, which will otherwise end up in landfill sites.' Wolf also told delegates that in addition to the company's material expertise, Corus' Automotive Engineering Group, which combines the latest thinking in manufacturing technologies with state-of-the-art computer-aided engineering and simulation can also offer manufacturers of fuel tank systems support in the design of new fuel tanks.

Commenting on the challenges created by the increasing trend towards the downsizing of engines, Wolf said: 'Smaller engines generate considerably more heat, resulting in the need for fuel lines to be resistant to much higher temperatures.' As with fuel tanks, Corus has developed an innovative new nickel-plated material called NICOR, which, unlike plastics, is temperature-resistant to over 2000 deg C and provides another solution for fuel line manufacturers.

Wolf added: 'NICOR is also highly corrosion resistant which allows it to be used with the increasing number of different fuels available at the petrol pump and, like Neotec, is also permeation free.' As one of the world leaders in double-wall tube material, Corus can also offer brake-line manufactures copper-plated steel strips, which also demonstrate high corrosion performance.

Wolf concluded: 'With a strong track record in materials innovation supported by a global marketing and supply capability, Corus is an ideal partner to provide steel solutions for many of the environmental and technical challenges manufacturers of automotive fluid handling systems face today.'