Novelis Inc., Atlanta, plans to establish a global network of Customer Solution Centers (CSCs) to accelerate collaborative innovation between Novelis and automakers for the next generation of vehicle design. Novelis will work with OEMs to determine how to maximize lightweight, high-strength aluminum to design the best solutions for specific applications at the right cost to better compete against steel and other materials.
The facilities will be led by teams of industry-leading researchers, designers and engineers located in close proximity to manufacturing sites in North America, China, and Europe. In addition, Novelis CSCs will provide an environment to demonstrate product concepts, simulate customer processes and performance, and leverage data to educate stakeholders throughout the supply chain about elements ranging from forming to costing.
The first center is scheduled to open in Novi, Michigan, with China and Europe to follow.
Customer Solution Centers will bring research and technical platforms, operations and commercial development together to increase collaboration and innovation. Each center will include high-tech development machinery ranging from computer-aided design (CAD) software to virtual collaboration capabilities and visualization technologies.
As the facilities come online, cross-regional teams will be in place to ramp up product development in critical stages for the auto industry.
