February 2022: High-tech equipment for coating forged magnesium automotive wheels

SMW Group AS has secured support for its Project titled “Development and purchase of high-tech equipment for the coating of ultra-light and environmentally friendly forged magnesium automotive and motorcycle wheels”. Funding was granted through The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia under the Norwegian Financial Mechanisms Programme “Business development, Innovation and SME’s”in the open call activity “Application of green industry innovation and ICT products and...

October 2020: Innovative coating process for Mg components

We’re pleased to announce that our project “Innovative and Efficient Coating Development For Magnesium Components” has received funding from The Central Finance and Contracting Agency under European Union Funds Program for European Regional Development Fund support for practical research.  More economical and highly effective coating method will allow magnesium to more widely replace aluminum in many more applications and use-cases. As a result, such changes will lead to lower...

March 2017: Ekranoplan technology to be commercialized

SMW Engineering announces plans to commercialize ekranoplan technology and is developing the prototype.  In many cases/applications, it is more efficient than any other in existence; and SMW will focus on designing these flying machines to be as light as possible, cost effectively, while utilizing its 3D additive manufacturing capabilities for some components.

August 2016: Magnesium wheels R&D project

Negotiations are underway to initiate large scale R&D project jointly with several automotive OEMs: “In-depth study of Magnesium Wheels Environmental, Safety and Economic benefits”.  EU funding application is scheduled for submission in October 2016.  The project is to be the first of its kind in Europe.  Project consortium is to include truck and specialty vehicles manufacturers.

July 2016: Exporter of the Year Award

SMW Engineering declared among top 5 exporters by the Union of National Business Rankings (NBR). NBR's “IMPORT EXPORT AWARD” shortlist saw SMW Engineering claim 4 th  place in nationwide “Exporter of the Year” rankings. National Business Ranking (NBR) is an annual independent program of ranking Russian enterprises. The rankings are based on official corporate reports of the country's importers and exporters.

June 2016: McLaren's new racing car

McLaren 570S Sprint is a new track-only model created for motorsport fans wishing to experience driving a McLaren racing car. The manufacturer uses the words “lightness” and “strength” to emphasize the character of the car. It therefore seems natural that this new model is equipped with magnesium alloy wheels. Magnesium is the lightest structural metal industrially available, and forged magnesium alloy wheels are both light and strong. The model debuted recently at the 2016...

February 2016: AeroFML R&D Project

Airbus confirms support for the joint R&D project aiming to develop large-sized AeroFML components. FML refers to fiber metal laminates, composite materials constructed by interlacing thin metal layers and fiber reinforced adhesives. SMWE is close to successfully accomplishing a challenging mission to produce prototypes made with an Almascan alloy, to be tested for conformance to Airbus requirements, as part of the homologation process.

November 2014: Weissach package

Comparative testing was performed between Porsche 918 Spider standard forged aluminium wheels and the Weissach package containing forged magnesium wheels, which over 60% of buyers have opted for.  The vehicle having factory standard configuration accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, from 0 to 200 km/h in 7.7 seconds, from 0 to 300 km/h in 22 seconds.  The same vehicle with the Weissach package, consisting of forged magnesium wheels, supplemented by the sports-version belts...

June 2016: Only highest quality components are deployed in Kortezh automobiles

Th e n ew Russian luxury vehicle scored high  crashworthiness  mark s under  the international testing standards. First of  the  four car  models being  engineered , a limousine  to be used by  the  Russian president and government  officials  was tested in Berlin this month and performed extremely well in all standard safety tests, including  various impact tests.   The “Kortezh”  project ...

June 2016: Only highest quality components are deployed in Kortezh automobiles

Th e n ew Russian luxury vehicle scored high  crashworthiness  mark s under  the international testing standards. First of  the  four car  models being  engineered , a limousine  to be used by  the  Russian president and government  officials  was tested in Berlin this month and performed extremely well in all standard safety tests, including  various impact tests.   The “Kortezh”  project ...

June 2016: Only highest quality components are deployed in Kortezh automobiles

Th e n ew Russian luxury vehicle scored high  crashworthiness  mark s under  the international testing standards. First of  the  four car  models being  engineered , a limousine  to be used by  the  Russian president and government  officials  was tested in Berlin this month and performed extremely well in all standard safety tests, including  various impact tests.   The “Kortezh”  project ...

2022-01-07 Innovative and efficient coating development for magnesium components

Aluminum intermetalide coatings on magnesium alloys can be used mainly as interlayers in composite coatings to improve corrosion resistance. Aluminum intermetalide coatings can be applied by various methods - from powders, alloys, etc. With these methods, coatings are mainly produced from pure aluminum. Vaccines obtained by vacuum methods, in particular (PVD), are more suitable for obtaining multicomponent coatings. PVD technology allows you to effectively control the...

2022-01-16 Innovative and efficient coating development for magnesium components

 Work is continuing on a publication cited by Scopus. Several series of samples have been prepared using the new electrolyte of the KOH-Si-P-Zr system and work has begun on the development of pore filling technology using the pyrolytic spraying method. Possibilities to use ZnO have been assessed; ZnO + phosphate and phosphate systems for pore filling in the protective coating after PEO treatment. Depending on the duration of the spraying process (1-30min), the...

2021-07-15 Innovative and efficient coating development for magnesium components

The scientific article Predko, P .; Rajnovic, D .; Grills, ML; Postolnyi, BO; Zemcenkovs, V .; Rijkuris, G .; Pole, E .; Lisnanskis, M. Promising Methods for Corrosion Protection of Magnesium Alloys in the Case of Mg-Al, Mg-Mn-Ce and Mg-Zn-Zr: A Recent Progress Review. metals 2021, 11, doi: 10.3390 / met11071133. " The article is around a volume of 37 pages and contains 25 figures, 10 tables and 164 references. On February 10, 2022 the article was downloaded more than 1800...

2021-10-10 Innovative and efficient coating development for magnesium components

Work has begun on the introduction of Zr into the electrolyte of the Si-P system, improving the corrosion resistance of the protective coating. Preparing and testing several series of samples in which Si has changed; P and Zr percentages in the electrolyte, a new electrolyte composition has been developed. The applicability of the new electrolyte composition in different current modes has been tested. Corrosion tests, phase composition analysis XRD, morphology and...

2021-06-29 Innovative and efficient coating development for magnesium components

Work on a new PEO treatment method and optimization continues. The development of the Si-P electrolyte system, which ensures the homogeneous introduction of these elements into the protective coating, has been started. The requirements for P and Si input parameters have been determined and the electrolyte composition has been adjusted. Several series of samples were prepared to control the amount of Si and P input and its effect on the PEO process. The obtained samples were evaluated for...

2021-04-08 Innovative and efficient coating development for magnesium components

Work continued on the scientific paper "Promising Methods for Corrosion Protection of Magnesium Alloys in the Case of Mg-Al, Mg-Mn-Ce and Mg-Zn-Zr: A Recent Progress Review". As of the end of Q1 2021, the volume of the article is 36 pages and contains 21 figures, 8 tables and 140 references. The first experimental works on the development of MgO-free protective coatings for Mg alloys in the PVD process have been started. At this stage, the effect of post-treatment (after...

2021-04-04 Innovative and efficient coating development for magnesium components

Work is continuing on the development of a sample pre-treatment method. In order for the PEO protective coating to be homogeneous, the magnesium alloy parts must be degreased in an ultrasonic bath. Possibilities of etching Mg alloys in acid and alkaline etchings before obtaining the coating are considered. The most suitable solvents and the duration of the ultrasonic cleaning process that give the best results have been experimentally determined. The influence of bipolar...

2021-01-03 Innovative and efficient coating development for magnesium components

Applying a protective coating to the surface of magnesium alloys is an obvious strategy to improve their wear and corrosion. Among the various surface treatments used for magnesium alloys is the plasma-assisted physical vapor deposition (PAPVD) technique, which has been extensively studied and is now widely used in industry to increase the productivity and service life of many industrial tools. Many studies have focused on the use of pure aluminum foil as an interface layer...