The benefits of working with magnesium

Do you know that magnesium can reduce the costs of running your car? As a driver, you would probably like to reduce your fuel costs, which is quite the challenge with the rising costs of fuel. Magnesium might just be your ticket to lower fuel costs in the future. Equipping your car with magnesium parts makes your car lighter, which can save you money at the petrol pump. This is just one example of what this material can do for you. Mifa has the technology and knowledge to manufacture magnesium car components.

From cars to bicycles: lightweight magnesium is everywhere

Magnesium can be used in all kinds of things, such as cars, cameras, aeroplanes, and even bicycles. If you are reading this while enjoying a cup of tea, your kettle probably contains magnesium parts. Many people are surprised to hear that their kettle contains such components, because of the old misconception that magnesium corrodes. Another misconception about magnesium is that it is more flammable than steel or aluminium or even that it is the weakest of the three materials. That’s quite a shame, as it’s led to magnesium being neglected when considering materials for components.

Even so, Magnesium is currently on the rise as producers increasingly use it in their products. This is primarily because it is a very light material. Engineers increasingly select magnesium as their material of choice, as it is up to 30% lighter than aluminium.

Magnesium can be produced for less

Magnesium truly is a lightweight material, as it is 30% lighter than aluminium and 70% lighter than steel. In industries where every gram counts, magnesium can make a huge difference.
The advantages for cars, trains, and aeroplanes is clear, especially when trying to work at peak cost efficiency. Processing and moving lighter parts means less production costs.

Porsche has already seen the advantages of magnesium and are being increasingly joined by companies that choose magnesium to save on their production costs.

Download our whitepaper about magnesium extrusion

The use of magnesium in cars: a case study

Cars need to be produced in a more sustainable way. It’s no longer a question or a desire, but a matter of fact. This aspect is becoming more and more important for consumers, while national governments are increasingly focusing on targets to reduce CO2 emissions.

As a manufacturer, you already gain several advantages by using magnesium. Firstly, it’s completely recyclable, instantly making your production process more environmentally friendly. Secondly, using magnesium instead of other materials reduces the overall weight of the cars you produce, which lowers your production and transport costs. Finally, a lighter car means lower fuel costs for the consumer, making it a win-win for everyone involved.

As an example, Porsche chose to use magnesium to construct the roof of their Porsche 911 GT3 RS. They tested magnesium, aluminium, and carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFPR). Magnesium was the clear winner, saving ten kilograms of weight in total as the strongest and lightest material.

This amazing material can also be used in several different steps of the production process. By using magnesium components instead of components made of comparable materials, we can construct lighter cars.

Producers can improve their production efficiency and reduce their environmental footprint by using magnesium. And it’s not only a coveted material in the automotive industry: the aviation, defence, electronics, and sports industries are eagerly adopting the use of magnesium as well.

Disproving the misconceptions

Some have questioned magnesium’s credentials as a strong material, yet when viewing its strength to weight ratio, magnesium is truly the stand-out option. Magnesium enables construction of lighter parts than comparable metals.

Increasingly, engineers are opting for magnesium-based solutions. Mifa has the following production methods in-house:

Mifa has a wealth of experience in using these production methods to construct magnesium components.

How will you use magnesium?

Magnesium has huge potential! Even so, we still notice some engineers aren’t entirely convinced of the merits of this material. You can’t appreciate what you don’t know, so now is the time to discover magnesium’s potential. With the right coating, we can make the perfect product for your desired application. Mifa constructs a broad range of magnesium products every day. We construct photo cameras, components for the automotive and aviation industries, and even casings for electronics.

Get in touch with us

Call or email Luuk

Area Sales Manager

Luuk Beurskens

+31 (0)77 389 88 88