Peguform charts a new path

After two and a half nerve-wracking years of insolvency, the American investor Cerberus Capital Management has taken over large portions of Peguform (see inset). We visited the offices of CEO Dr. Jens Banaschek, in order to probe a little deeper into Peguform’s future course. ....read more!

International Conference “Plastics in Automotive Engineering”

On 9th and 10th March, 2005 the VDI Society of Plastics Technology will be holding the international conference “Plastics in Automotive Engineering” in Mannheim/Germany. This year the conference will focus in particular on:

- High quality interiors
- New concept in cockpit design
- Film and paint technology in the passenger compartment
- Plastic applications in the exterior
- Highly functionally integrated roof modules
- Automotive Glazing
- Hybrid structures and high-strength structural components
- Acoustics and insulation
- New plastic processing processes

We will of course be there and are looking forward to meeting all of you in Mannheim!....read more!

TPO in Pickups
Thermoplastic polyolefin used for instrument panel in GM compact pickups

The instrument panel in the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon compact pickup trucks is the first all-TPO design by Intier Automotive Interiors. It is also the first such application by General Motors in a North American vehicle. The instrument panel cover, glove-box door, and driver’s knee bolster are injection moulded in colour of Solvay Engineered Polymers’ thermoplastic polyolefin. ....read more!

PA under the bonnet
New applications in sight for glass-fibre reinforced Polyamide

In addition to their other attributes, polyamides are setting the pace in two aspects of automotive manufacturing: firstly, because of their heat stability, they are increasingly replacing metal under the bonnet. Secondly, they are being used more and more in structural components. This applies especially to parts that are fabricated using hybrid technology. Taking advantage of these trends, Lanxess Deutschland GmbH has developed new Polyamide 6 types which are also said to withstand high combustion temperatures. ....read more!

Polymer Glazing Comes to the Fore
Function and aesthetics for large surface glazing

GE Advanced Materials, Automotive, working in collaboration with Exatec, offers premium design options for large three-dimensional (3-D) glazing panels for rear and roof window applications and other 3-D parts by combining high-performance Lexan GLX resin with coating technologies from Exatec. Furthermore GE present their Instrument Panel Program featuring two new resins. ....read more!

A Life on Colour
PolyOne offers several new grades to the automotive industry

Several new products can be reported of PolyOne. UV stabilised grades of OnFlex-S / Bergaflex TPE-S thermoplastic elastomer compounds found their way into different Audi types. Translucent colour concentrates were developed in amber, blue and green, to meet PSA designer specifications. Black, grey and beige colour concentrates for both the door panels and the seat cladding applications are used in the Mercedes A-class compact cars. Furthermore PolyOne supplied colour and additive concentrates for the Renault Modus exterior. ....read more!

Light and tight
New fastening solutions for thermoplastic lightweight constructions

Due to its wide density range, impact resistance and energy absorption, insulation and chemical resistance, Expanded Polypropylene (EPP- foam) fits perfectly for weight reduction and light-weight construction. But how about fastening? At the end of the development process, it often turns out that a secure connection cannot be realized with conventional screws or systems anymore. Especially foams, ranging within the lower densities, might not work with the available fasteners. ....read more!

Water takes up
Water injection moulding combined with the 2K process in injection moulding

Water injection moulding enables efficient production of thermoplastic moulding with functional cavities. The process has proven itself technologically and scientifically interesting in various series production situations. Thanks to a new method, two component water injection, new applications can now be implemented. ....read more!

A Viable Technique
IML injection compression moulding of three-part door panels

Back injection-compression moulding is a viable in-mould lamination (IML) technique for applying textile fabric or “soft-touch” (foam-backed) coverstock material to car trim panels. Now, for the first time, a supplier is using IML technology to produce all three sections of the door panels for an upscale four-door sedan - and reports productivity and quality improvements compared to hand/vacuum lamination. ....read more!

Award-winning Team
Visteon teams with Husky to produce instrument panel for Ford’s new Mustang

Visteon Automotive Systems, based in Saline, MI/USA, is a leading full-service Tier 1 supplier that delivers consumer-driven technology solutions to automotive manufacturers worldwide. When Ford approached Visteon to help reduce the production costs of an instrument panel for the 2005 Mustang, Visteon turned to Husky Injection Molding Systems in nearby Novi to find the right injection moulding solution. ....read more!

Complex in large scale
Wilden produces mechatronical assembly for Continental Temic

Wilden AG, Regensburg/Germany, manufactures a complex mechatronical assembly in large-scale production for Continental Temic, a Continental AG subsidiary. The assembly serves as a control unit for the radiator fan drive, carries the fan motor and establishes the electric connection to the stator of the motor via reeds. In addition, two hall sensors are integrated which indicate the number of revolutions per minute of the radiator blade. By plug contacts and a conducting board which is soldered-on subsequently, the component is connected to the motor management. ....read more!

Predictable Foam
Foam Injection Moulding of Lightweight Parts

Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH currently develops the knowledge of correlating melt properties and resulting foam structures. The present research activities aim to overcome the trial and error experiments and predict the foamability. Therefore, it is important to know, that the foam structure can be optimised by using different PP grades, e.g. containing glass fibres or talc. Contrary to expectations, optimizing the foam injection moulding process does not mean increasing processing costs. Understanding the physics and material properties leads to well-defined integral foam structure of the injection-moulded parts. ....read more!

Read more about several products for the automotive industry
....read more!