Automotive

Overview

As a leading supplier to the automotive industry, Commonwealth provides automakers with lightweight solutions for a sustainable approach to the design and manufacture of automobiles. In response to more stringent fuel efficiency standards, automakers across the globe are seeking lighter materials in their manufacturing processes. Aluminum is a superior solution for building lighter-weight vehicles that meet these standards.
Commonwealth remains dedicated to serving customers with advanced solutions, which is why we produce the widest aluminum sheet available in the industry. The wider material provides automotive manufacturers with greater efficiency and flexibility as they expand aluminum applications to include hoods, roofs, door panels, side panels and trunks.

At our facility in Lewisport, Kentucky, we offer state-of-the-art auto body sheet production. We completed a $600 million expansion that added heat treatment and finishing capabilities in order to produce wide aluminum auto body sheet. That has positioned Commonwealth to elevate its level of service and value to North American automotive manufacturers as they pursue broader aluminum use in the production of lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles. According to a 2020 report by Ducker Worldwide, fuel efficiency standards in North America are expected to drive substantial growth for aluminum in automotive.

In the production of sheet and coil, we use the Continuous Annealing Line with Pre-Treatment (CALP), which enables us to produce these products in various alloys and tempers for many industries and in a wide variety of applications.

At our Innovation Center in Madison Heights, Michigan, we use advanced research and modeling techniques to support our automotive customers’ internal R&D and process improvement efforts, helping them meet their design, development and manufacturing objectives.