LIFT and The Center Unveil Lightweight Frame at SAE Conference in Detroit

LIFT and the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center unveiled an innovative lightweight aftermarket car frame at the SAE’s World Congress Experience (WCX) event in Detroit, MI. The frame was designed in response to the growing market need for alternative lightweight vehicle frame options in the custom car market. Beyond replica cars, this frame can be adapted for military applications, as a number of companies working with the Department of Defense have identified the need for a lightweight frame to be used in military vehicles to effectively lighten loads and increase fuel economy.
The project led by Gregg Peterson, the Center’s principal materials engineer, who was instrumental in technology transfer with NASA-successfully adapting software from the aerospace industry to automotive. A number of organizations were also involved, including: The University of Tennessee – Center for Industrial Services Institute for Public Service, and the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI).
Due to the wide demand for lightweight frames in the custom car market, the goal was to design a lightweight frame that could be easily morphed into virtually any wheelbase, vehicle length and width without requiring additional tooling. This ensures that the frame can be used in a variety of classic and hot rod car builds.
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