BMW Group receives Altair Enlighten Award for 3-D-printed part

BMW Group has received a 2018 Altair Enlighten Award, presented by Altair and the Center for Automotive Research. The award honors the greatest achievements in vehicle weight savings each year, as judged by an independent panel of automotive industry experts, academia, and the engineering media.

BMW received the award in the Module category, which focuses on vehicle systems, subsystems and components, for its 2018 BMW i8 Roadster metal 3-D-printed convertible roof bracket. This is the first metal 3-D-printed part to be used in a series production vehicle. Produced with selective laser melting technology without needing any support structures, the part captures a 44 per cent weight savings and tenfold stiffness increase.