Wauconda, Illinois- The strength, light weight, and other superior qualities of magnesium are highlighted in the latest edition of Mg Showcase, the online news magazine series produced by the International Magnesium Association (IMA) at www.intlmag.org. Magnesium’s Got Game features a number of application stories that illustrate the many design and manufacturing advantages of using magnesium for critical components in sporting gear. From soccer fields and golf courses to ice rinks and ski slopes, magnesium is helping athletes and outdoor enthusiasts to play and compete better with lighter, stronger, more durable equipment than ever before.

Superior light weight and stiffness is the reason Adidas chose magnesium to replace plastic or aluminum parts for its high-end soccer/football shoe. The complex-shaped magnesium cleat is exchangeable, thus extending the shoe’s usable life. The manufacturer was able to achieve an intricate shape while accommodating thin-walled sections by employing multi-slide die casting technology. Dynacast Germany GmbH & Co. KG, partnering with a group of companies, developed the innovative technology that is divided into four or five elements instead of the two (one moving and one fixed) used in conventional hot-chamber dies casting processes. The advanced manufacturing technology is described in October 2009 Mg Showcase issue. The multi-slide manufacturing process consistently produces the requested thin walls on top of the studs while accommodating two small holes used to affix the cleat to the shoe’s sole.

The October Mg Showcase issue also highlights an application that takes advantage of magnesium die casting’s near-net-shape process. A precision-cast magnesium crown combines with a titanium cup and stainless steel sole plate to form the Exotics XCG-V driver. The magnesium crown, engineered to create a 30-percent larger “hot zone”, and magnesium neck are able to absorb more shock on contact to provide a smooth and powerful stroke. The magnesium crown, twice as light as the same titanium part, allows 49-percent of the club’s weight to be distributed below the ball in the steel sole’s rear corners, creating a deeper center of gravity angle and distance for greater force for a quick launch and longer, more accurate drives. “Magnesium is an idea material for the golf club crown since we can cast its net shape for the optimum assembly of the head,” explained Mark Myrum, XCG-V engineer.

Other applications highlighting magnesium’s superior attributes outlined in this issue of Mg Showcase include ice skates, racing skis, binoculars, professional archery equipment, and the world’s most advanced compact universal solar charger.

To view this Magnesium’s Got Game issue, as well previous Mg Showcase issues, visit www.intlmag.org and choose Mg Showcase under “Magnesium Resources” from the side navigation bar.

As part of its ongoing mission to be the global voice of magnesium, the International Magnesium Association has created the graphically rich and vividly descriptive Mg Showcase, a quarterly online publication that is used to inform readers about the value that magnesium brings to various market applications. Mg Showcase clearly illustrates magnesium's superior material attributes, performance, and design advantages. Market applications that have been featured in previous Mg Showcase issues include transportation, consumer electronics, furniture, medical/healthcare equipment, and more.