LITECORreg;: The new way to build lighter cars

Experts from ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe, working closely together with leading auto manufacturers, have developed a new type of composite material called LITECOR® for large flat parts such as doors, lids and roofs. This composite material is significantly lighter than conventional steel sheet and costs less than aluminum. Parts made from LITECOR® cause fewer CO2 emissions in production than any other lightweight material, reduce fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions thanks to their low weight, and, like all steel products, can be recycled endlessly with no loss of quality. LITECOR® can be shaped by standard automotive industry cold forming processes using existing production equipment. After only moderate adjustments to radii and design features the sandwich material can be processed in the same dies used for steel and aluminum parts. The layer thickness of the extremely light polymer core is increased, leading to a disproportionate increase bending stiffness.