Mazda Motor announced on Tuesday the firm developed automotive parts with world highest 1,800 mega pascal strength steel through joint program with Sumitomo Metal Industries and Aichi based parts maker, Aisin Takaoka. They utilize hot press process, with which traditional best was 1,500 MPa of strength. Mazda and the partners realized the higher strength parts making technology through optimum mix of material and technology for control and process.
They developed high strength bumper beam. The parts have around 20% higher strength and around 4.8 kilogram lower weight compared with traditional parts. Mazda decided to use the new parts into next generation light and strong body, SKYACTIV body of new crossover sports utility vehicle, CX-5, which is launched in early 2012. Mazda also developed new shape of bumper beam to improve energy absorption efficiency with the high strength parts. The firm also developed better welding condition through joint program with Hiroshima based parts maker, Futaba Kogyo. Sumitomo Metals has advantage in hot press technology as a pioneer for the technology in Japan. The firm has shipped total more than 140,000 tonnes of flat steel for hot press since the firm started the steel shipment to Aisin Takaoka in 2001.