Everyone knows that the Volkswagen Group has a special fixation with Tesla. The Germans want to hunt down the Americans at all costs, although they know that it will not be easy for them since they have long underestimated the power of Tesla. To achieve their goal, they plan to transform the company, from its sales philosophy to its manufacturing processes. Like those in Austin, Volkswagen already works on castings to create their cars. The first of those parts has just been created at the foundry plant in Kassel, Germany.
The future in the short and medium term of Volkswagen is to beat Tesla in sales. With the ID family taking off in sales and increasing model offerings, over the next few years, current cars will be outdated by the arrival of new technologies and new manufacturing systems. The casting of large metal parts is the course chosen by the Germans. His inexperience in this field has forced him to invest large amounts of money that are now beginning to pay off.
Over the years we’ve talked about Tesla’s well-known Giga Presses as a fundamental part of the company’s success. Large die-casting machines that are capable of creating components quickly and effectively. Fewer welds and more solid parts allow for more torsional stiffness in the vehicle. Volkswagen has installed the first of its large foundry presses in Kassel. A huge creature with up to 6,100 tons of force.
In the year 2025 the Volkswagen Trinity will be the first of the group to enjoy the SSP platform (Scalable Systems Platform). Although the development is already underway, it is now that the first of its foundry pieces has been molded. A small team of specialists has managed to create the back of the platform, a piece 1.6 meters long by 1.5 meters wide. 4,400 tons of pressure have been necessary for your creation, but there it is. The first of many.
Volkswagen expects the Kassel foundry to become the cornerstone of this new production strategy. In the future, large castings will succeed in relegating traditional welding and fixing to the past. The great piece created by the Germans would involve the use of 30 different pieces weighing 10 kilograms more. All are advantages, although the process is more laborious and delicate. Over time the foundry team will refine and streamline a process that will become standard for future releases.
Font: LinkedIn
