Meridian Lightweight Technologies and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have won the AFS/Metal Casting Design & Purchasing Casting of the Year award for their liftgate closure inner casting for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The casting is a collaboration between Fiat, Meridian and Thai Summit America Corp., and represents the first high-volume magnesium application of its kind in the automotive industry. The casting forms part of a four-piece assembly with aluminum sheet upper and lower outers and aluminum stamping wiper reinforcement to reduce the weight of the entire assembly by more than 22 lbs. (10 kg)—nearly a 50% reduction over the previous generation design.
The AFS/Metal Casting Design & Purchasing Magazine Casting Competition is held every year to give North American metalcasting facilities the chance to show the engineering and purchasing community what a cast metal part can accomplish.
Eight other castings were honored as Best in Class or Honorable Mention winners.
Best in Class:
Honorable Mention:
The American Foundry Society is a not-for-profit organization formed in 1896. With its headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill., AFS provides members and consumers with information and services to promote and strengthen the metalcasting industry.