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Ford Hosts World's Largest Magnesium Expo

3 December 1998

Ford Hosts World's Largest Magnesium Expo

    DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 3 -- Ford Motor Company is
planning a magnesium diet over the coming decades in a continuing effort to
watch its vehicles' weight.  And, Ford's MagExpo'98 is to the Ford engineering
community what Richard Simmons is to millions of Americans, the motivation to
stay the dietary course.
    The third annual MagExpo is now the largest of its kind after the company
opened the event to over 100 Tier One suppliers this year.  The MagExpo'98
technical exchange forum is critical based on the company's projections of
magnesium content growing from only five pounds per vehicle today to equaling
current aluminum composition levels of about 250 pounds per vehicle over the
next two decades.
    "We've taken a very aggressive approach to deploying magnesium
technologies in our vehicles over the last three years," said Tom Sweder,
manager-Weight Engineering, Ford Advanced Vehicle Technology.  "MagExpo'98 is
the latest example of Ford leading development of lightweight, environmentally
friendly vehicles in an affordable manner.
    Ford's leadership in magnesium and other lightweight material use will
have a direct impact on the environment as engineers can add a half mile of
fuel economy for every 100 pounds of weight it shaves off a car or truck.
Magnesium promises plenty of potential as it can be manufactured quicker with
less wear and tear on casting tools.  In addition, magnesium offers design,
casting and NVH improvements while weighing half as much as steel and
two-thirds as much as aluminum.
    Ford began this magnesium campaign in 1996 by investing in the Australian
Magnesium Corporation (AMC) to ensure an affordable and reliable source of
this malleable metallic chemical.  Starting in 2002 when AMC begins
production, Ford is guaranteed 50 percent of its output at a pre-arranged
price.  This foresight has left the company in good position as magnesium
demand and price have sharply increased over the past several years.
    "The first step was to establish a cheap, stable source of magnesium which
we accomplished by investing in the Australian Magnesium Corporation," said
Sweder.  "Now that demand has skyrocketed, most magnesium suppliers can
basically set their own price.  So, we now have an advantage over all of our
competitors allowing us to develop and use more magnesium applications."
    Ford's top brass will kick off the event by hosting a special executive
review to emphasize the company's strategic magnesium plans to suppliers and
Ford engineers.  Suppliers will then show off their latest developments in
magnesium die casting and computer aided engineering technologies at the
three-day expo.
    Worldwide, magnesium use has grown 18 percent per year over the last 12
years including dramatic growth of 30 percent in North America and 65 percent
in Europe in 1997.