“Delivering lightweight technologies to our customers at a good value is the main challenge faced by the automakers” … Craig Renneker, Chief Engineer – Component & Pre-Program, Transmission & Driveline Engineering, Ford

This year’s Global Automotive Lightweight Materials Initiative: Detroit 2014 will feature 20+ brand new case studies focusing on technical solutions for incorporating the materials & manufacturing techniques that are having the biggest impact on reducing the cost of mass produced lightweight vehicles.

In 2 days of brand new content from leading OEMs, the agenda this year will focus on: MASS PRODUCTION, MATERIAL SELECTION & OPTIMIZATION AND ALUMINUM & MIXED MATERIAL JOINING TECHNIQUES.

With an OEM-led agenda and a number of significant OEM speakers from GM, Ford, Volvo, Chrysler & Toyota, the GALM series is globally renowned for being the key lightweighting conference for automotive manufacturers.

Here are some excerpts from an interview with Craig Renneker, Chief Engineer – Component & Pre-Program, Transmission & Driveline Engineering at Ford, who is one of the key speakers from the OEM led speaker faculty.

You Will Join GM and Chrysler on a 'Lightweighting Opportunities beyond the Body' Panel - How does collaboration like this help drive lightweighting?

Craig Renneker: We need greater scale and supplier participation in commercializing lightweight technologies. To the extent that collaboration enables this scale, it is in our interest.

What is your background in lightweighting?

Craig Renneker: I have developed and launched 11 new automatic transmissions at Ford over the last 14 years. In each of these programs, we have set ourselves challenging weight targets and search the industry for viable, high-volume weight reduction technologies.

What are the main challenges you are currently facing at Ford in relation to lightweighting?

Craig Renneker: Delivering lightweight technologies to our customers at a good value. There are many great technologies out there that are simply too expensive for our market.

How is Ford attempting to cost-effectively reduce weight at mass produced scales?

Craig Renneker: We continue to look at every technology to find the right combination of weight value and supplier availability.

Who are you looking forward to meet in the conference and why?

Craig Renneker: I am looking forward to meeting suppliers who can bring me weight reduction ideas at the value and scale I need for high-volume transmission/driveline/axle programs.

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference?

Craig Renneker: I’m looking forward to hear about new technologies and new applications of existing technologies in high volumes.

Why is Ford choosing to be involved in Global Automotive Lightweight Materials Detroit?

Craig Renneker: This gives me an opportunity to exchange ideas with others in my industry and stay abreast of the latest technologies.

This will be my 3rd GALM conference. I encourage both suppliers and OEMs to participate to enable us to share ideas and learn about new lightweight technologies. I need new ideas to incorporate into Ford’s next generation of transmission and driveline products.

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