Technology Sharing: Integrated Casting Technology Innovation Under the Industry-University-Research Model [SMM Aluminum Industry Conference]

On April 16, at the AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo—Aluminum Die Casting Industry Development Forum, jointly organized by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., SMM Metal Trading Center, and Shandong Aisi Information Technology Co., Ltd., and co-organized by Zhongyifeng Jinyi (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. and Lezhi County Qianrun Investment Service Co., Ltd., Han Jiantang, Project Director of Shandong Hongcan Materials Technology Co., Ltd., discussed the innovation of integrated casting technology under the industry-university-research model.

I. Background
1.1 Auto Sales and Exports
Market trends: The auto market showed rapid growth, with reduced costs and cut-throat competition. Chinese auto brands quickly rose, breaking the monopoly of foreign auto brands.
1.2 Auto Release Data
The auto industry has entered an era of rapid development and updates. In 2024, 610 new models were launched, with the following power type distribution: pure electric (226 models, 37%), fuel (204 models, 34%), plug-in hybrid (110 models, 18%), range-extended (39 models, 6%), and hybrid (31 models, 5%).
1.3 Passenger Vehicle Development Trends and Demands
Functionalization → Comfort & Lightweighting → Electrification & Intelligence & Integration → Personalization & Customization → Short Development Cycle Demands.
1.3 Passenger Vehicle Development Cycle Demands
In the past, joint venture automakers had slow iteration speeds. For example, BBA typically had a mid-cycle facelift every 4 years and a major update every 8 years, with a corresponding R&D cycle of about 54 months.
The new vehicle R&D process is divided into three main stages: planning, design/verification, and production, leveraging platformization. The planning stage takes 9.5 months, design/verification 14 months, production 10.5 months, and an additional 2 months for the launch phase, totaling 36 months.
The agile R&D concept has entered the modular and digital era, further shortening the vehicle development cycle.

II. Technological Innovation Under the New Model
2.1 Industrial Thinking Under the New Model
2.2 Demands Under the New Model
2.2 New Model of Industry-University-Research Integration
The group adheres to the development philosophy of "high starting point, high technology, high added value, and green environmental protection." It collaborates with domestic and overseas research institutions and key producers, such as the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou Aojie, Hangqiao Technology, and Guangzhou Hede, leveraging high-end technology and the industrial advantages of aluminum-electric integration. Focusing on the development of high-strength, high-toughness alloy materials for the NEV series, it actively explores the lightweight alloy material market for transportation and is committed to lightweight solutions for vehicles, deeply integrating with NEV parts, auto components, and vehicle preparation. It aims to build the most advanced, full-process lightweight R&D, testing, and manufacturing base in China, with future expansion into rail transit, marine engineering, and other fields for lightweight materials and parts, achieving industrialization of parts preparation and deep processing.
It also elaborated on the development cases under the industry-university-research model, including material R&D.
2.3 Development Case Under the Industry-University-Research Model—CAE Analysis
The strength safety coefficient of the aluminum alloy high-vacuum die-cast shock absorber tower is above 2.2, with static stiffness at 0.366 mm (target ≤0.5 mm) and fatigue damage value at 0.00025 (target ≤1). The body in white’s modal, static stiffness, and dynamic stiffness performance all exceed those of steel structures, meeting requirements.
2.3 Development Case Under the Industry-University-Research Model—Process Plan
The process flow design, parting scheme design, die-casting model design, casting ejection scheme design, and die-casting parameter setting for the aluminum alloy high-vacuum die-cast shock absorber tower.
2.3 Development Case Under the Industry-University-Research Model—Vehicle Verification
Additionally, it introduced the overview of Shandong Hongcan and its five advantages: mineral resources, technical talent, alloy materials, equipment advantages, and quality assurance.
Click to view the special report on AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo.