Constellium’s University Technology Center (UTC), located at Brunel University London, is a center of excellence for the design, development and prototyping of aluminium extrusions and automotive components such as Crash Management Systems, body structure components and battery enclosures for electric vehicles. Opened in 2016, the UTC features industrial scale casting and extrusion equipment to provide rapid prototyping that reduces development times by at least 50% for the advanced aluminium alloys required for the continued lightweighting of automotive components. Alloys developed at the UTC include Constellium HSA6^®, a portfolio of high-strength alloys, and Constellium HCA6^®, a series of crushable alloys.

In 2018, the UTC was expanded to include a R&D center to support the transition of technologies and production techniques developed at the UTC to Constellium’s extrusion and automotive structures plants around the world.

In partnership with Brunel University London, Constellium continues to shape the next generation of engineers and scientists through a fellowship program for PhD students and post-doctoral fellows.

Manufacturing Capacity

 

The UTC features a fully-integrated Direct Chill casting and extrusion laboratory with a 1,600-ton extrusion press. The Center also offers forming and joining of aluminium automotive components, including freeform 3D bending, electromagnetic pulse forming, sawing, and joining techniques such as welding, flow drill screw and self-piercing rivets. Then, prototype components are tested and analyzed to confirm they meet automakers’ exacting specifications.