U.S.-based Novelis has introduced a new automotive grade aluminum alloy series, the Advanz 7000-series of high-strength alloys designed for safety-critical components of vehicle structures.

The company says Advanz 7000 is two to three times stronger than other automotive aluminums used in high volumes today, and that the products can be used to manufacture components such as bumper systems, crash ring components and door intrusion beams.

According to Novelis, the new alloy series will offer a significant weight reduction when compared to current high strength steels in the marketplace, enabling automakers to further reduce the weight of vehicles while ensuring high levels of passenger safety.

"As more automakers look to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel economy, high-strength aluminum alloys are playing an increasingly critical role in vehicle design," says Jack Clark, senior vice president and chief technical officer for Novelis. "For decades, Novelis has been a pioneer in aluminum alloy development and set the standard in the automotive industry. Novelis' Advanz 7000-series will drive the industry forward by offering automakers additional weight savings with superior strength for optimal safety performance."

The Novelis Advanz 7000-series expands the Novelis family of aluminum alloys offering automakers an array of products designed to address customer requirements for strength, formability and styling. Customer testing of the first Novelis Advanz 7000-series alloys is currently underway with a number of global automakers, Novelis says.

"The development of Novelis Advanz 7000-series high-strength alloys is the latest step in our strategy to expand our automotive offerings around the world," says Todd Summe, vice president, global research and development for Novelis. "Our Novelis Advanz 7000-series alloys will be used to produce automotive sheet at Novelis facilities on all three of the world's major automobile producing regions—Asia, Europe and North America—offering a unique supply chain advantage to our global customers."

Novelis has announced partnerships with a number of automakers around the world, with its aluminum used in manufacturing operations for the new Ford F-150, the Range Rover and the Jaguar XE.

Novelis says it pioneered the aluminum alloys—including 6111, 6016 and 5754—that shaped the high volume adoption of aluminum in the auto industry.