TECHNAX driving the performance of tomorrow : aluminium rocker assembly
In a context where technological innovation lies at the heart of sustainable mobility, TECHNAX is committed to working alongside passionate partners to push the boundaries of performance. It is within this dynamic that a project was carried out in collaboration with the Bern Racing Team, a multidisciplinary student team based in Biel, specializing in the development of electric race cars.
A collaboration driven by excellence
Founded in 2022 as a continuation of the Formula Student program launched in 2014, the Bern Racing Team designs and builds each year an electric vehicle prototype combining performance, safety, and environmental responsibility. As part of this partnership, TECHNAX’s Innovation & Prototypes department was engaged to carry out laser welding trials on a key component: an aluminium rocker.
The challenge of laser welding on aluminium
Aluminium is a particularly demanding material when it comes to welding. Its high thermal conductivity and sensitivity to defects such as porosity require precise control of heat input parameters in order to achieve a uniform and reliable weld.
The component under study, the rocker, plays a critical role in the vehicle’s suspension system. It transmits and redirects the wheel’s motion to the damper while optimizing the leverage ratio. Its performance and strength are therefore key factors in the vehicle’s dynamic behaviour.
Expertise serving innovation
With its three laser welding machines, TECHNAX is able to support its partners throughout the research, testing, and validation phases. This capability makes it possible to replicate conditions close to industrial production, thereby ensuring reliable results that can be effectively leveraged for real-world applications.
This project perfectly illustrates TECHNAX’s commitment to supporting innovation by providing its technical expertise to ambitious, forward-looking initiatives.
TECHNAX would like to warmly thank the Bern Racing Team for their trust in the completion of this project. This collaboration highlights the strong synergy between industrial expertise and student engineering, serving the technologies of tomorrow.
📸 Credits: Bern Racing Team (vehicle) / TECHNAX (welding trials)
Aluminium rocker assembly – TECHNAX (1)
