<div class="htmlview paragraph">The automotive industry is facing a major challenge to incorporate additional powertrain function into smaller more complex packages to meet mandated fuel economy standards and ever increasing world wide competition.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">An important tool available to meet these challenges is the use of latest Welded Steel Tube technology to develop new concepts for manufacture of the more complex automatic transmission races, gears, hubs and shafts of the future. Advantages of Welded Steel Tubing over seamless tubing, forgings and castings include:</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph"> <ul class="list disc"> <li class="list-item"> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Closer raw material tolerances which significantly reduce material waste.</div> </li> <li class="list-item"> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Higher productivity, lower tool cost and reduced scrap resulting from lighter machining cuts and/or elimination of entire machining operations.</div> </li> <li class="list-item"> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Complex part shape cold formability directly from commercially available material without the need for prior truing operations.</div> </li> <li class="list-item"> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Stronger more durable components.</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">This paper includes manufacturing information regarding a transmission hub and a transaxle shaft which demonstrate typical NEAR NET SHAPE advantages of automatic transmission/transaxle parts manufactured from Welded Steel Tubing.</div>