Abstract: A method of assembling a plurality of body structures for forming a vehicle assembly comprising the body structures, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of body structures to be assembled, at least one of the body structures having a deformation region; acquiring information indicating a vehicle assembly type to be formed; mating at least one body structure with another body structure to form the vehicle assembly; and performing a deformation region treatment on at least one deformation region of at least one body structure of the vehicle assembly to form at least one deformable region based on the information indicating vehicle assembly type.

Abstract: There is described an impact force coupling assembly operable to couple impact forces from an upright member of a road vehicle to a horizontal transverse member thereof during an impact event. The assembly has a first region and a second region, and is operable to be impinged or captured between the members during the impact event. The assembly includes cavities including dividing walls therebetween, the dividing walls extending along the assembly in a direction from the first region to the second region. Capture of the assembly during the impact event is affected by intrusive deformation of the side walls at the regions of the assembly by portions of the transverse member and the upright member. The coupling assembly is preferably fabricated as a unitary extruded aluminum component. The upright member and the transverse member are preferably a heel-kick and a B-pillar respectively of the vehicle.

Abstract: There is disclosed an impact force coupling assembly operable to couple impact forces from an upright member of a road vehicle to a horizontal transverse member thereof during an impact event. The assembly has a first region and a second region, and is operable to be impinged or captured between the members during the impact event. The assembly includes cavities including dividing walls therebetween, the dividing walls extending along the assembly in a direction from the first region to the second region. Capture of the assembly during the impact event is affected by intrusive deformation of the side walls at the regions of the assembly by portions of the transverse member and the upright member. The coupling assembly is preferably fabricated as a unitary extruded aluminium component. The upright member and the transverse member are preferably a heel-kick and a B-pillar respectively of the vehicle.

Abstract: Method and device for switching between web formed materials that are to be separately processed in a following process step, wherein each material (3) is supported and substantially enclosed by a separate feeder cassette (2) that is individually driven and controlled for shifting the materials individually, the feeder cassettes being formed so as to permit drive rollers (12) arranged downstream of the shifter device to engage the material through the feeder cassette for feeding the material through the feeder cassette.