Audi 2013 Annual Report Download - page 55

Audi is a signature brand where every car bears the personal
hallmark of its designers, engineers, production workers –
and procurement personnel. Inlays made out of an unexpected
combination of the materials aluminum and wood, such as
black Beaufort, are available as an option to give the interior a
highly exclusive feel. The production process for this is a per-
fect example of how Audi and its suppliers are constantly coming
up with new solutions : The bonding system used for inlays
has to withstand enormous mechanical forces. Thin sheets of
veneer are formed from a solid block of wood ; these sheets
are then joined layer by layer with the aluminum – with no cracks
or joints. Another challenge is to achieve an overall homoge-
neous look for an inlay such as Beaufort oak, producing quality
comparable with the deck of a ship, while using a natural
product like oak with its variations in color and structure.
“Collaboration with the supplier over several years means we
can offer high-quality, exclusive surface materials like these,”
reports Martens.
An unexpected combination
of metal and wood – a technical
and visual masterpiece.
Beaufort oak inlays :
as individual as the wood from
which they are made.