On December 5, 2021, Ningbo Tuopu Group Co., Ltd. held a grand opening ceremony for the third of the new 2025 strategic factories: “Aluminum Subframe Second Factory and Third Factory”.
The second aluminum sub-frame factory (eight chassis) is located in the third phase of the Hangzhou Bay base of Tuopu Ningbo, covering an area of 100 mu; the third aluminum sub-frame factory (9 chassis) is located in the Xiangtan base of Tuopu Hunan , Covers an area of 110 acres. The total investment of the second and third aluminum sub-factories is about 1.35 billion yuan. The factory has a complete set of core making, casting, welding, machining and other production equipment required for the production of integral and split aluminum sub-frames. All of them will be completed in 2022. After being put into production, it can achieve an annual output of 1.35 million sets of aluminum sub-frames.
Bird’s-eye view of Hunan Tuopu
Aerial view of Hangzhou Bay Phase III of Tuopu
Chassis sub-frame is an important structural safety part. It connects and fixes assembly parts such as suspension system, steering system, engine or motor, and requires high strength, rigidity, and modal performance. Compared with the traditional steel sub-frame, the aluminum alloy sub-frame can achieve a weight reduction effect of more than 30%, and the lightweight performance is remarkable. However, due to the high design requirements of the aluminum alloy sub-frame, the mass production is difficult, and there were only a few foreign countries in the past. Parts companies have R&D and mass production capabilities.
Based on the extensive development experience accumulated in the field of chassis and aluminum alloy materials, Tuopu independently designed and successfully mass-produced a number of aluminum subframes in the first aluminum subframe factory (chassis seven). So far, Tuopu has the industry’s only full-process aluminum alloy sub-frame supporting capability that integrates design, analysis, process, testing, and manufacturing, covering integrated aluminum sub-frames (low pressure/high vacuum die-casting), split type Hollow aluminum sub-frame (low pressure casting), split frame aluminum sub-frame (differential pressure casting). Tuopu can simultaneously carry out product design of multiple process schemes, and combine various factors such as weight reduction effect, performance, and cost to select the best solution for customers.