APC Wave 7 : RACE Form

RACEForm project is designed to catalyse cost-effective light-weighting of high volume vehicle platforms using

a robust UK supply chain.The enabling technology, Hot Form Quench HFQ® was developed in Imperial College

& the University of Birmingham & has a unique capability to produce, at high speed, complex high-strength

aluminium components for body-in-white & chassis applications. The RACEForm projects takes this unique

technology, proven for niche vehicle applications, through to a readiness for application in high volume SUV &

electric vehicles by combining the expertise of Impression Technologies (who own the HFQ

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technology),

Gestamp (a global leader in automotive stampings), Innoval (a leading aluminium technology consulting

company), Imperial College & Brunel University. The project will aim to reduce production cost via cycle time

improvements, validate joining & crash performance & even develop an approach for utilising recycled

aluminium for critical structural components delivering lower CO2 emissions, embedded carbon content of

the vehicle, production cost & (via weight savings) range/performance of electric versions of platforms.