Registration

ArcelorMittal’s Multi Part Integration™ (MPI) concept allows multiple vehicle components to be integrated into one large laser welded blank (LWB). MPI is one of the most cost-effective ways for carmakers to develop and deploy sustainable mobility solutions while simplifying vehicle design and production.

ArcelorMittal’s Multi Part Integration™ (MPI) concept allows multiple vehicle components to be integrated into one large laser welded blank (LWB). MPI is one of the most cost-effective ways for carmakers to develop and deploy sustainable mobility solutions while simplifying vehicle design and production.

ArcelorMittal Multi Part Integration™ uses the latest press hardenable steels (PHS) and laser welding technology to create a single part. The MPI part can replace up to 11 separate parts with one – reducing the complexity of carmaking significantly.

The viability of the MPI concept has already been proven and production vehicles with MPI parts are already on the roads of Asia, Europe, and North America. ArcelorMittal Global R&D has also developed several case studies which show how MPI can be implemented today while offering OEMs significant reductions in costs, emissions, and lower investments in tools and production space. 

Further studies are in progress and will be as they are completed. ArcelorMittal is undertaking further studies and continue to develop the MPI concept in response to new challenges facing the automotive market.

The top 6 benefits of the MPI concept for OEMs :

1. Radical simplification of the vehicle production process
2. Part reduction
3. Crash optimization
4. Considerable sustainability gains including a lighter finished vehicle and material usage optimization
5. One common and modular solution for multiple powertrains
6. Potential cost savings of up to 10 percent

Combining multiple parts into one greatly simplifies the part production process and associated costs. Advantages include:

• Only one stamping tool needs to be produced, and it can be used in one stamping operation
• Just one blank is produced. The only finishing work that needs to be done is trimming the part and applying patches to enhance strength and accommodate different powertrains. As there is only one final part, less assembly steps are required.
• Shopfloor footprint reductions as the OEM needs fewer process steps to manufacture the MPI module. Warehouse space can also be reduced as fewer parts need to be stored.
• Almost unlimited design freedom to create complex geometries which optimize the advantages of ArcelorMittal’s press hardenable steels (including Usibor^® and Ductibor^®) and the hot stamping process.
• This technology is not only possible with hot stamping and cold stamping Laser Welded Blanks. Cold stamping are mainly for chassis parts, e.g. the engine cradle which is already on the implemented on an EV form a global OEM.
• A finished part with excellent geometric accuracy.

Using MPI, one modular solution can be developed for multiple powertrains and vehicle types including e-mobility and micro-mobility solutions.

Part shape and the distribution of material is similar for every powertrain. Patches can be applied to the part to add reinforcement for a specific powertrain – without increasing costs.

MPI solutions can be used with almost any powertrain including:

• Internal combustion engine (ICE)
• Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV)
• Battery electric vehicles (BEV)
• Future powertrains based on technologies such as hydrogen and fuel cells.

OEMs already use laser welded blanks (LWBs) to ensure that the right steel, in the right thickness, is in the right place to enhance crash performance. LWBs have continuous weld lines which enhance energy absorption and the behaviour of the part during a crash. LWBs also eliminate weak points in the part.

MPI parts utilise ArcelorMittal’s latest press hardenable steels (PHS) to dramatically enhance safety while reducing mass.

ArcelorMittal PHS families – such as Usibor^® and Ductibor^® – are ideal material choices.

• Usibor^® offers the strength and anti-intrusion properties required to protect the vehicle’s occupants and power system
• Ductibor^® provides ductility, enabling crash energy to be controlled and directed away from the passenger compartment and fuel source

Working in combination these grades enable engineers to tailor how a part behaves in a range of crash scenarios.

Find out more about ArcelorMittal’s press hardenable steels (PHS)

By integrating multiple parts into one, OEMs can reduce the overall mass of the part. This approach offers many sustainability benefits including:

• Lower CO2 emissions from reduced steel production:
  • Less steel is required to achieve the same functionality. This avoids emissions from steel production.
  • Even further reductions in steel usage are possible with the deployment of advanced nesting techniques which enhance material utilization. Advanced nesting optimises the amount of steel initially used, reducing the amount of scrap steel that must be shipped back to the steel plant for recycling.
• Less CO2 emissions during the vehicle’s life. A lighter finished vehicle will have lower emissions over the use phase of its life.
• Reducing the area required to manufacture and store parts for different powertrains of the same model. Depending on the part, the space required can be reduced by almost half.

ArcelorMittal contracted an independent external partner to calculate the cost savings from every MPI study. The methodology uses an ideal, virtual plant which produces 150,000 vehicles annually. The calculation assumes that the same vehicle – in different powertrain versions – is produced for five years.

Each study contains more information on the potential cost reductions when MPI is deployed.

ArcelorMittal’s MPI concept has already been applied to several vehicle parts in detailed. The results of the studies show that for every part produced using the MPI concept, significant emission, cost, and process savings are generated.

The following MPI case studies are already complete:

• Dash panel
• Double door ring
• Floor reinforcement
• Rear floor panel
• Rear H-frame

Further studies are under development. The results will be published on this page as they become available. We’re also interested to hear where you'd like to apply MPI in your vehicles.
Contact us for a confidential discussion

Further studies are under development. The results will be published on this page as they become available.

More information