Automotive

What will the future automobile look like? A sneak peak at tomorrow's car will be presented at Chinaplas 2012 as part of design competition in that show's "Future Zone" display.  A five-month design, selection and production process of the "Future Car" is already underway with 15 groups of students submitting applications.

The Center for Automotive Research (Ann Arbor, MI) has launched the Coalition of Automotive Lightweighting Materials (CALM) to support efforts by auto manufacturers to aggressively down-weight vehicles to improve performance, fuel economy and safety. Founding members include including Trexel, 3M, BASF, Plastic Omnium, Altair, EWI, Material Sciences Corp., Michelin, PPG Industries, and Shiloh Industries.

Toray Industries, Inc. (Tokyo) concluded a technical partnership agreement with Gordon Murray Design Limited (GMD; Shalford, U.K.) on the side-lines of the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show 2011 aimed at promoting GMD's iStream hybrid production process in vehicle manufacture and other industrial sectors.

DSM Engineering Plastics (Sittard, The Netherlands) has joined forces with Brazilian distributor Resinet (Sao Paulo) to develop markets for the suppliers portfolio of resins in the South American nation. The two have entered into a distribution agreement that will target automotive, electrical and electronics, and general industrial applications.

For all the talk of Japan's automakers shifting significant production of vehicles in the wake of the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and associated tsunami, the outlook for 2012 auto domestic sales at least looks rosy according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA; Tokyo).

Thermoplastic elastomer supplier Kraiburg TPE (Waldkraiburg, Germany) and toolmaker/molder Mues Products & Moulds GmbH (Kolbermoor, Germany), have joined forces to debut a new type of removable badge plate for engine covers in the automotive sector molded using a two-shot process.

BASF (Ludwigshafen, Germany) and Philips (Eindhoven, The Netherlands) have achieved a practical breakthrough in the development of OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology that allows it to be integrated in car roofs. The OLEDs are transparent when switched off, allowing for a clear view outside the vehicle, yet providing light only within the vehicle when switched on.

Carbon fiber-reinforced grades of thermoplastics such as polypropylene (PP) are nothing new but Japan's Toray Industries, Inc. (Tokyo) reports that it has succeeded in making performance advances that make such CFRP composites a more attractive option in automotive applications.

The last two decades have been a roller coaster ride for many molding companies and their employees. But for three long-time plastics industry management people, the lessons learned have been incorporated into their injection molding business, which started out small but has seen good growth and expansion.  Three partners, all vice presidents, are Rod Bricker, Gerry Phillips and Jerry Williams. The trio started Prism Plastics LLC.

Citing the enormous potential market for cars in the region, Lanxess will highlight customized polyamides and polyesters for sustainable mobility at Interplastica 2012 (Moscow, January 24-27, Stand FE62, Krasnaya Presnya exhibition center). In particular, Lanxess will exhibit lightweight nylon composite sheets that can be used alone or together with metal sheet in plastic/metal composite designs.