INDUSTRY NEWS
Audi Launching New Diecasting Facility Carmaker Audi, Ingolstadt, Ger-
many, has purchased a manufacturing site in Münchsmünster, Germany, on which it plans to develop a diecast- ing facility, among other operations, by the end of 2013. According to a company press
release, Audi purchased about 100 acres of land in Münchsmünster to accommodate some of the growth of its Ingolstadt manufacturing site. The carmaker initially will de- velop around 65 acres of the land to launch assembly and machining capacity, in addition to the diecast- ing operation. “Te strategic investment in
Münchsmünster is part of our growth strategy,” said Frank Dreves, an Audi board member. “It allows us to free up capacity at existing plants and use sites in the surrounding area for future technologies.” Dreves said Audi believes expand- ing its expertise in aluminum diecast- ing will be an important part of the new manufacturing facility’s success. “Diecast components are a central element of our lightweight construc- tion strategy,” Dreves said. “Having our own diecasting foundry will enable us to advance the necessary technology and guarantee the long-term supply of diecast aluminum parts.”
The new manufacturing facility is meant to take pressure off of Audi’s operation in Ingolstadt, which has begun producing increasing numbers of car models, like the Q5 (shown).
Audi is also planning the produc-
tion of sheet metal and thermoformed parts. Development of the site will
start in 2012, and operations are expected to commence in the second half of 2013.
WTO Ruling Will Enforce Ban on Chinese Export Taxes A World Trade Organization
(WTO) appellate body has upheld a ban on Chinese export duties for certain raw materials, including a variety of re- sources used in the metalcasting process. Te raw materials subject to the
export restraints are various forms of bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, manganese, silicon carbide, silicon metal, yellow phosphorus and zinc. China is a leading producer of each of the raw materials. Te ruling is in response to a
complaint regarding China’s export practices initially lodged almost three
years ago. During the summer of 2009, the U.S. and several other countries argued the use of export restraints by China creates scarcity and causes higher raw materials prices in global markets. Te complainants said the re- straints also provide Chinese domestic industry with an advantage by way of a sufficient supply and lower and more stable prices. According to a summary report of its decision, WTO sided with the complainant countries and China must bring its export duty and export quota measures into conformity with
its obligations to the organization. “Upon its accession to the WTO, China undertook to eliminate all export duties, except for a number of products listed in an Annex to its Protocol of Accession,” WTO said in its report. “In this protocol, China also committed not to apply export quotas (restrictions on the amount that can be exported).” Conflicting reports have been
released in the wake of the ruling regarding the effect the decision will have on other Chinese export materi- als, such as rare earth elements.
March 2012 MODERN CASTING | 9
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