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Alcan Aluminum Helps Lighten the Load on 2003 Ford Expedition and Navigator
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Alcan Automotive
: 27 June, 2002 (Company News) |
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Ford Motor Company |
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Ford began shipping the 2003 Expeditions and Navigators in May from its Michigan Truck Assembly plant in Wayne, Mich.
The liftgate was developed by Ford in partnership with Alcan Automotive, a leading supplier of aluminum automotive products and technology, based in Farmington Hills, Mich. Alcan has been awarded the supply contract for aluminum stamping blanks.
From concept through launch, Alcan was an integral partner to Ford on the liftgate project, participating in both the engineering and manufacturing teams. The liftgate features a multi-alloy design, engineered to meet Ford’s requirements for cost efficiency, formability, dent resistance and structural strength.
The liftgate is produced at Ford’s Woodhaven facility, south of Detroit. The finished assembly weighs approximately 29 pounds, about 18 pounds less than a conventional liftgate. The reduced weight allows Ford to use lighter and less-costly gas struts, which provides secondary weight savings, and helps the vehicles to achieve their targeted weight class. |
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