Jan
2
Chrysler Dicks tailored blanks
Filed Under Chrysler News
The applications are likely to consume 30,000 tons or more of galvannealed flat-rolled steel per year, according to Chrysler sources here.
TWB Co. LLC, Monroe, Mich., has been selected as the supplier of the laser-assembled, dual-thickness blanks, which Chrysler sources said will provide a savings in steel and finished-part weights. The use of tailored blanks also will result in a parts consolidation benefit, Improved parts durability and noise-vibration-harshness (NVH) benefits, they said.
Chrysler builds the popular sports utility vehicles in Detroit in annual volumes that have averaged close to 300,000 units in recent years, and Chrysler executives expect sales to improve as a result of the redesign program. New V-8 engines and automatic transmissions, as well as new bodies, will be featured in the 1999 models.
The steel for the inner door and liftgate blanks is expected to come from one or more of three steel companies-LTV Steel Co., Cleveland, Rouge Steel Co., Dearborn, Mich., and Bethlehem Steel Corp., Bethlehem, Pa.-that have minor equity interests in TWB. The Monroe blank manufacturer is a joint venture of Worthington Industries Inc., Columbus, Ohio, Thyssen Stahl AG, Duisburg, Germany.
