GM?s New Aluminum Welding Technique is Pretty Slick

Should help improve fuel economy too! GM R&D invented an industry-first aluminum welding technology expected to enable more use of the lightweight metal on future vehicles. According to the GM PR, its new resistance spot welding process uses a patented multi-ring domed electrode that does what smooth electrodes are unreliable or unable to do ? welding aluminum to aluminum. By using the new heads and process, GM expects to eliminate nearly two pounds of rivets from aluminum body parts such as hoods, liftgates and doors.