At the Fakuma trade show in Germany, Victrex (Thornton Cleveleys, UK) will be presenting solutions for the automotive industry, a focus segment for the company, at its stand (Hall A4, Stand 4106). Associated benefits include greater fuel efficiency and driving comfort, and an extended service life, all achieved through refinements such as a reduced moment of inertia, less complex parts, new design approaches, and greater functional integration. In addition, Victrex PAEK materials can be processed economically on conventional thermoplastic machines with high-temperature capabilities. Importantly, this makes it possible to use the injection-molding process to mass produce complex and elaborate high-performance components, without subsequent tempering or machining.

To address specific market challenges, Victrex is working with its customers and improving future performance through innovation in polyaryletherketone (PAEK) materials. These include the Victrex PEEK family as well as downstream areas such as Victrex Pipes Aptiv films, tapes and medical technology components, or advanced options in the case of gears. "We have an important goal in view: to create value through high-performance polymer solutions in our focused sectors. In this way, we are able to help our customers solve problems, using our specific expertise and investment in R&D and technology aligned with the markets. This helps our customers excel in innovation and improve their performance," explains Rainer Müller, Regional Sales Manager at Victrex.

Further, the acquisition of Kleiss Gears, a US gear specialist with over 20 years' experience, is also intended to assist in achieving this goal. The move unites Kleiss Gears' combination of plastic optimized, innovative gear design and testing, and its manufacturing capability, with Victrex's material know-how, innovation-focused technical expertise, and global footprint. "No matter whether the customer is looking for a materials solution or a complete system solution, we now have the ability to speed up the development and adoption of PEEK-based gear applications and meet the tough requirements of applications such as those found in the automotive industry. Building on the expertise of Kleiss Gears, we can provide our customers with more customized services and products," continues Müller. The benefits of solutions based on Victrex's high-performance plastics are a reduction in noise vibration harshness (NVH) of up to 50% and a significant reduction in energy consumption and weight compared to metal gears.