Previous Events

21. + 22.09.2010, Aachen

Programmeflyer  Review 2009  Outlook 2011

On September 21st and 22nd the “Aachen Body Engineering Days 2010” took place at the Institut für Kraftfahrzeuge (ika) RWTH Aachen University and revealed that the conference has become a meeting place for body engineers from all over the world. Approximately 230 participants used the conference to exchange about the topics lightweight design, intelligent material use and innovative structural concepts.

Prof. Dr. Lutz Eckstein, head of the institute, introduced the plenary session, presenting the challenges of future mobility from the perspective of ika. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, member of the board development of Volkswagen AG, verified the challenges and allowed an insight into the future development of body in white (BIW) at Volkswagen, particularly the requirements of a world car with regard to future alternative or electrical propelled cars.

In further plenary presentations Peter Wolf (BMW AG) demonstrated the requirements of complex product lines of the large model line at BMW, Bertold Hopf (Daimler AG) showed future perspectives of multi material concepts in the BIW.

Apart from strategic questions and trends in BIW design, the presentation of current body concepts was a major part of the conference. This year the participants of the Aachen Body Engineering Days experienced the premieres of the BMW 5er Touring, the Audi A1, the Ford C-Max, the Volkswagen Sharan, the Opel Meriva and the Volvo S60.

A view on actual and upcoming electric vehicle generations was given by Dr. Egil Mollestad (CTO at Think) with his presentation of the BIW of the Think City. A contribution to alternative drivetrain concepts was also given by the study Mila Alpin from Magna Steyr, which was presented on the second day.

Latest material developments in steel, aluminium and magnesium were a main focus of the second day. An outlook on new lightweight approaches through the specific use of fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) was given by ika, that presented its research results on a lightweight floor structure with local reinforcements made from FRP. Further topics of the second day were innovative rear seat and unconventional door concepts, as well as new lightweight approaches through weight reduced glasing. In the accompanying body and technical exhibition the speakers and other exhibitors presented topic related developments.

The date for the Aachen Body Engineering Days 2011 is already set: 20.-21. September 2011.

Galleries

Impressions

+28

Speaker

+21

Evening Event

+20