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Sliding door designs are applied to rear side doors on vans and other large vehicles with a trend towards dual sliding doors with power operation. It is beneficial for the vehicle user to reduce the weight of and space occupied by these doors. Alcoa, in conjunction with Ford, has developed a multi-product, multi-material-based solution, which significantly reduces the cost of an aluminum sliding door and provides both consumer delight and stamping-assembly plant benefits. The design was successfully demonstrated through a concept readiness/technology demonstration program.

Light weighting of vehicle doors is a challenge faced by all vehicle manufacturers - whether passenger cars and vans or large commercial vehicles like trucks and buses. This need is driven not only by the desire to improve the vehicle's fuel economy, but also by the implication of the doors on the buyer's perception of the vehicle's quality. The best solutions to these needs emerge from an unbiased consideration of different materials and product forms in the design and development of lightweight doors. To demonstrate this notion, a truck door was designed that has the potential of providing both improved fit as well as enhanced structural performance. The concept also simplifies the manufacturing process thereby minimizing system cost while offering approximately 7% additional weight saving compared the door already made from light weight materials (aluminum).