Special Feature

Automotive Materials Business
Taking Advantage of
Group Value

Automotive materials are a strategic product and identified as one of the major policies in UACJ’s mid-term management plan, “Global Step I”. In addition to the prospect of continued growth, the strengths of UACJ, which has six different operations, can be utilized in this area. We are currently working to reinforce our supply network and R&D activities in order to respond to the expanding market.

UACJ Strengths

Supplying a Wide Variety of Aluminum Products That Support Improving the Environmental Performance of Automobiles

With environmental issues in the spotlight, environmental regulations have been tightened on cars around the world in recent years. All automotive manufacturers are focusing on reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency. To achieve these objectives, it is essential to reduce the weight of the vehicle body and improve the combustion efficiency of engines. To this end, automotive manufacturers are seeking to reduce the weight of vehicles by using different materials for parts, bodies and other components. In the midst of such a trend, aluminum is attracting attention because of its light weight, having a specific gravity as low as approximately one-third that of iron.

In addition to being lightweight, aluminum’s characteristics include excellent strength, workability, erosion resistance, thermal conductivity, and recyclability. Because of these properties, to date it has been used in a large number of key parts such as engines, transmissions, and wheels. On the other hand, for body panels and frames, the use of aluminum has been limited to some special cars, partly due to cost restrictions. However, ahead of the introduction of more stringent fuel economy standards across the globe in 2020 and thereafter, aluminum body sheet and frames have been recently finding their way into some mass-produced models of high-end sedans and sports cars. Aluminum is expected to be introduced for use in other parts through technological development in the future and adopted for a wider variety of components.

Amidst these trends, UACJ is producing an extensive range of automotive aluminum parts by drawing fully upon the strengths of technological prowess and expertise that the company has accumulated through its six businesses. By taking advantage of this feature, having been involved in as many as six different business domains and producing a wider variety of aluminum parts required by the automotive industry, UACJ aims to enhance its presence as a solution provider in the drive for lighter cars and to help improve the environmental performance of automobiles.

Fuel efficiency standards in Japan, US and Europe
Fuel efficiency standards in Japan, US and Europe
Aluminum used per car
Aluminum used per car
Supplying automotive parts in six businesses
Flat Rolled Products Business
Extrusion Business, Foil Business
Casting and Forging Business, Copper Tubing Business
Precision-machined Components Business