Chongqing University and other industry partners collaborate to spearhead China's Magnesium and Aluminum Alloy Large Castings R&D centre

In a ground-breaking collaboration, Chongqing University, Baowu Magnesium, and Chongqing Millison Technologies joined forces and inked a visionary agreement. Their collective endeavour aims to establish the China Magnesium and Aluminum Alloy Ultra-Large Castings Research and Development Centre.

The official pact was sealed amidst the dynamic ambience of the Automobile Lightweighting Expert Achievement-sharing Event, heralding a new era of innovation and expertise convergence. This initiative aligns with Chongqing's "33618" modern manufacturing industrial cluster system, which places a strong emphasis on three primary industrial clusters:

• electronic information manufacturing
• intelligent connected and new energy vehicles
• advanced materials

Additionally, it aims to foster growth in six key industrial sectors. With the establishment of the R&D Centre, the primary focus will be advancing the development of ultra-large magnesium-aluminium alloy materials and components. The objective is to promote large-scale production and widespread application of these materials in various industries.

The collaborative efforts will extend to developing innovative magnesium-aluminium alloy materials and advancing processing technology tailored explicitly for oversized castings. This concerted approach underscores the commitment to driving technological advancements in the field, particularly emphasising magnesium-aluminium alloy applications.

As outlined in the 2024 Chongqing Municipal Government Work Report, Chongqing is committed to advancing industrial innovation through scientific and technological progress. The city aims to expedite the development of a modern industrial system and actively nurture new productive forces. The recently established R&D centre, in alignment with these goals, will specifically address technical and process challenges associated with producing magnesium-aluminium alloy ultra-large castings.

The primary objective of the R&D centre is to accelerate the transformation of scientific achievements stemming from the National Magnesium Centre, with the overarching aim of constructing a world-class technology platform. Jiang Bin, the director of the R&D centre, highlighted the anticipated increased participation of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) on the platform.

This collaborative effort is poised to facilitate the development of a world-class, intelligent, networked new energy vehicle industry cluster in Chongqing. The emphasis is on fostering a collaborative environment that drives advancements in technology and innovation within the automotive sector.