Sustainability a key element in choosing materials exec

Nov 04, 2008 | 06:56 AM |

The sustainability of both aluminum and steel from "cradle to cradle" was among the chief features of a discussion on raw material choices for automakers during AMM's 3rd Annual Automotive Metals Conference in Detroit.

Subodh K. Das, chief executive officer of Phinix LLC, a Lexington, Ky.-based company started up last month in order to promote, develop and implement low-carbon-footprint manufacturing technologies and carbon trading, suggested that automakers review their raw material choices, including the alloys used in metals, to see if parts can be designed that are more recyclable from the outset.

The previous approach to the use of raw materials was driven by the desired performance of the end product, with limited consideration given to the end of the product's life and even less consideration for the cost of the carbon footprint created by the extraction, manufacture and processing of materials, Das told conference attendees.....