Five firsts at Fakuma: BASF

BASF (Ludwigshafen, Germany) is showing off its light touch in automotive design at Fakuma with several world firsts at booth 4306 in hall B4. The chemicals giant is highlighting three applications—car roofs, coolers and shock absorbers—where its materials have contributed to significant gains in lightweighting, reducing component weight by as much as 25% compared with metal parts and improving mechanical and acoustical properties.The top mount application integrates a bearing made of BASF’s Cellasto elastomer and a housing made from PA 66–grade Ultramid A3WG10 CR. Material interplay was crucial in this top-mount part, says BASF. Cellasto exhibits good static and dynamic behavior, says the company, while Ultramid A3WG10 CR, which is 50% glass-fiber-reinforced, maintains rigidity, even at high temperatures. The material is suited for dynamic loads and is, thus, generally a good alternative to metal.BASF is also showcasing the first plastic rear-axle transmission cross beam used in the Mercedes-Benz S Class.To read an article about the medical molding applications that will be featured at Fakuma 2015, click on the arrow under the image.