Seeking For Technologies that

  • Eduardo from METALSA
  • From Mexico
  • Responsive
  • Project Size Range : 250,000 - 1,000,000 €
  • Deadline completed
    The submission process for new proposals is closed. Proposals submitted before the deadline will follow the standard evaluation process.

Desired outcome

We are seeking a solution that eliminates oxides formation from AHSS and promotes surface corrosion inhibition. The solution should be able to be incorporated into a standard electro-deposition coating process (e-coat). Some AHSS are prone to exhibit high surface corrosion with evidence that some of them may present a thicker oxide formation at welded areas. This condition may, therefore affect adhesion of the anti-corrosion coating system, ultimately causing painted components to be more prone to corrosion.
We are seeking innovative technologies capable of efficiently and completely remove oxides in AHSS surface and welded areas while promoting surface corrosion inhibition.

Details of the Innovation Need

Background

We produce a variety of structural automotive steel assemblies by encompassing manufacturing processes in forming, gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and painting. The last of these processes involves protecting the assemblies against corrosion through a system involving cleaning, rinsing, phosphatizing and an E-coat deposition. The whole painting process is done by fully immersing the assemblies in tanks for the pre-treatment and E-coat deposition stages at specified cycles times to then be allowed to cure in an oven.

Cleaning AHSS becomes critical due to these assemblies’ characteristics:

  • Assemblies have an important percentage of heat-affected zones (HAZ) due to the GMAW process, in which oxide formation might be thicker than regular oxides.
  • Due to the assemblies’ configuration, there is a large percentage of closedsection areas. The sought technology needs to be able to clean inside / outside of the assembly.
  • Over 70 assemblies per hour are coated.
  • New trends require structures to assemble AHSS with regular carbon-steel, coated steels and aluminum. The solution needs to be compatible with a multi-material system.

We are interested in technologies that can demonstrate their solution’s cleaning effectiveness through a scalable process and partners capable to prove their solid technology, expertise and knowhow on this challange.

We will consider for advancement an approach that meets performance criteria with acceptable economics and pathway to commercialization. While commercially available technologies are of primary interest, we will also consider maturing technologies with a reasonably short timeline to commercial viability.

The Desired Solution

The successful technology will:

•Allow a 70 assembly-per-minute submersion process;

• Will be compatible with carbon steels, coated, galvanized, galvannealed steels and aluminum;

• Have no negative impact on the steel substrate;

• Be easily implementable into existing e-coat painting lines

• Be robust and repeatable

What the Solution Must Include:

Your response should address the following:

- Non-confidential description of the proposed technology and working principle

- Availability of technical data including:

  • Processing rate
  • Immersion times to achieve the desired cleaning
  • Safety considerations for operations
  • Costs estimates

- Technical maturity of the approach (concept, reduced to practice, prototype, ready to commercialize, ready to implement, commercialized)

- Pathway to commercial scale including timing, estimated budget, and capacity for manufacture

- Estimated unit cost of technology

- Position on intellectual property including patent references

- Desired relationship with us

- Team description and related experience (please update your professional and organization profile on the submission form)

Discarded Solutions:

The following approaches are not of interest:

  • Technologies that damage the steel assembly and/or the galvanized, galvannealed coating;
  • Technologies not capable of meeting through put requirements;
  • Technologies that require a change or a significant addition in the painting process.

Related Keywords

  • Industrial manufacturing, Material and Transport Technologies
  • Cleaning (sandblasting, brushing)
  • Erosion, Removal (spark erosion, flame cutting, laser/plasma cutting, electrochemical erosion, waterjet cutting)
  • Jointing (soldering, welding, sticking)
  • Plant Design and Maintenance
  • Construction engineering (design, simulation)
  • Materials Technology
  • Automotive engineering
  • Industrial Technologies
  • Clean Industrial Technologies
  • Cleaning Technology
  • Chemical Technology and Engineering
  • Physical Sciences and Exact Sciences
  • Physics
  • Vibration and Acoustic engineering
  • Protecting Man and Environment
  • Electronics Related Market
  • Laser Related
  • oxidation

About METALSA

Metalsa is a private company and a subsidiary of Proeza Group.

We manufacture tier 1 and tier 2 structural components for the light and commercial vehicle markets. We are constantly growing and innovating. Having state of the art technology that keeps products at the forefront. Our portfolio includes light duty frames, space frames, suspension modules, body structures, safety systems, transmission modules and fuel tanks for passenger cars and light trucks as well as chassis frames, side rails and cross members of heavy trucks and buses.

For us, our collaborators are the engine of the company and everyone works together to achieve our vision; “Best global option for automotive structures”.

Our culture is a strong asset to foster collaboration and communication in order to support efficient decision-making processes. We continually strive to eliminate barriers of collaboration and seek for human development and the well-being of our communities. We create a multicultural team of more than 13,000 employees around the world giving Metalsa the opportunity to offer solutions to the customer with a strategically global perspective.

Eduardo Isai

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