PP proves it’s more than skin-deep
Plastics breakthrough in external parts

At its Innovations Center in Linz/Austria, Borealis develops customer applications in the automotive manufacturing sector and other segments. 270 people are employed here developing solutions based on polypropylene. In the coming year the Center is to be extended to 400 engineers. Polymotive talked to the Application Marketing Manager, Klaus Maureder....read more!

Stylish and unobtrusive
WIT for roof rack

Substituting one material for another is a common enough procedure in plastics technology today. If a polymer solution offers better characteristics and a higher degree of commercial viability, a test run would seem the way forward, even if there are a few hurdles to be overcome before the volume production stage is reached. Decoma is looking into replacing aluminium, steel or extrudates by PBT or glass-fibre reinforced polyamide (PA) on a roof rack manufactured using the WIT injection moulding technique. For this new approach, Decoma selected the roof rack on the VW Passat Variant as the object of an investigative study. With the development phase now completed, we spoke with Klaus Münker, Innovations Manager of Decoma Engineering Center Europa, part of the Magna Group.....read more!

Nice and hollow
New products for the Water-Injection Technique (WIT)

BASF‘s product portfolio already contains several standard types that are very well-suited for processing by means of the WIT. One example is Ultramid A3WGM53 for applications exposed to hot oil. On the other hand, merely optimizing the process technology of the WIT does not attain the desired objectives for all engineering plastics. This is why a hydrolysis-resistant PA 66 type (Ultramid A3HG6 WIT) has been developed within the scope of BASF‘s research project especially for processing by means of the WIT. ....read more!

Water and gas in the driving seat
Fluid Technology Conference

The focal point of Battenfeld Spritztechnik’s Open House held in the middle of June was water and gas injection technology. A total of 150 visitors attended the lectures and talks held on the premises of the German sales company in Meinerzhagen/Germany. At the same time, in the technical section, the company presented three injection moulding plants fitted with Airmould and three equipped with Aquamould, along with the production of corresponding parts. A foretaste of the K Exhibition, when Battenfeld will be demonstrating the performance capability of their machine technology, automation technology and machining technologies on different production cells in Hall 16 Booth D22. ....read more!

Window of opportunity for glazing

For more than 10 years now, polycarbonate (PC) has been trying to find its way into automotive glazing. These days hardly any headlamps are made from glass, but, as far as the glazing is concerned, the breakthrough is taking its time. Some interesting detailed solutions have nevertheless already emerged in volume production, not just in the case of the Smart. For instance, one good example is the fixed rear windscreen on the Seat. Here the moulded recess for the door handle is integral to the rear screen. With glass, a design of this nature would not have been possible. ....read more!

More comfort in automotive interiors
Adaptable foams in many world premieres at IAA

Foams in automobiles often seem unspectacular. But especially in interiors, these soft, lightweight and flexible materials add significant comfort for passengers. As acoustical damping they reduce driving noise, as padding they make armrests comfortable, and as backing they give instrument panels an attractive look and feel. The lightweight materials also reduce fuel consumption. ....read more!

Redesigned and Upgraded
Two-colour door panel in the new BMW 5 Series

When the BMW 5 Series was redesigned, the vehicle interior was also upgraded. For Johnson Controls, a supplier of automotive interior systems, electronics and batteries, this meant a complete new development of the door panels. By introducing machinery and process innovations, Johnson Controls managed for the first time ever to apply a two-colour foil to a single-component substrate made of natural fibres. The new process ensures both cost-effective production and a high-quality finish. ....read more!

Featherweight plastic wheel
Featherweight plastic wheel Simulation method for plastic wheel rims

Light-metal rims are popular with car fans. Fibre-composite materials offer a new option, but these wheels have not yet been approved due to a lack of suitable testing methods. Researchers can reliably simulate how they will cope with hitting the curb and negotiating bends. ....read more!

Reinforced Road Runners
K 2007 - a showcase for numerous innovations

The Zurich-based Quadrant Group will be lining up three business divisions in Dusseldorf: together, Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products, Quadrant Plastic Composites and Quadrant Creative Moulding & Systems are poised to present their solutions for everything to do with high performance, semi-finished and finished polymer products. ....read more!

Wide spectrum
BASF polymers in automotive applications

At a trade press conference held in advance of K 2007, BASF took advantage of the opportunity to introduce their latest innovations that are to be presented to visitors to K. As far as the automotive sector is concerned, there are a number of features on offer. The spectrum ranges from a glass-fibre-reinforced PBT/ASA blend for hard-soft combinations to an impact-modified, mineral-filled, partially aromatic polyamide for online coatable car parts. In our next issue (Polymotive 09+10/2007), we will be looking at what BASF can offer in the field of simulation methods. ....read more!

Weight reduction in the focus
First part of our K 2007 preview about DSM materials

DSM Engineering Plastics
has a long proven track record in metal replacement. Now a further step in value creation is made by developing new applications in plastics. These will be highlighted at the DSM Engineering Plastics booth at K 2007 and include:
- engine mounts, strut mounts, top mounts in Stanyl PA46
- throttle valve bodies in Arnite PET
- structural reinforcements, pedestrian impact beams, oil sumps in Akulon Ultraflow PA6.
What else is offered by DSM is described in the article hereafter. ....read more!

World Premieres
First part of our K 2007 preview about Engel

Its world début at this year’s K trade fair will make the compact-design Engel e-max all-electric injection moulding machine. What is more: with the introduction of the speed 380 and the speed 500, Engel has now considerably widened the clamping force range of its speed series of fast-cycling machines, this now being 180 to 500 tonnes. Thus the company can now offer a high-performance machine from the speed series for any standard fast-cycling application. The machines of this series are distinguished by their extremely short cycle times and their high reproducibility. But Engel has even more to offer. ....read more!

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