Automotive

A textile composite designed to absorb sound in vehicles has been developed by Freudenberg of Weinheim, Germany.

By the end of 2018, Ford plans to be using graphene in ten under-the-bonnet (under-the-hood) components on its F-150 and Mustang.

An embroidery process (Tailored Fibre Placement (TFP)), developed by ZSK Technical Embroidery Systems is being used by Shape Group to manufacture the wheel arch of Elemental Motor Co's RP1 sportsca

The price of polyamide (PA) 6.6 has increased by more than 40% since 2017 as availability of the material has declined, putting manufacturers of plastic parts for the automotive industry in serious

Cost-effective, scalable methods for the production of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) are to be developed by a consortium in the UK with the aim of improving the performance of electric v

Renault and its partners have been presented with an award for the composite guide rails employed in the rollerblind sunroof module for the panoramic roof system featured on two of its multipurpose

Sportscar manufacturer Briggs Automotive Company (BAC), Haydale Composite Solutions (HCS) and Pentaxia Composites have received funding to develop graphene-enhanced composites for automotive applic

Carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) oil control valves are being used by an Asian carmaker in place of conventional machined aluminium versions to reduce the weight and cost of its engine

Teijin Ltd  of Tokyo, Japan, is positioning itself as one of the largest suppliers of composites to the automotive industry with its acquisition of component manufacturer Inapal Plasticos SA of Por

Teijin Group subsidiary Continental Structural Plastics (CSP) is to invest approximately €5.1-million to install a sheet moulding compound (SMC) line at its facility in Pouance, France.

A non-kinking, self-wrapping woven sleeve that provides protection to an underlying elongate material has been developed by Federal-Mogul.

An improved moulded inner dash trim part for a vehicle has been developed by Autoneum of Winterthur, Switzerland.

Magna International of Aurora, Ontario, Canada, collected three first-place awards at the 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Awards gala held in Dusseldorf, Germany, on 6

A reinforced thermoplastic containing electrically conductive fibres that allow it to be heated more quickly and evenly than is possible using conventional techniques is being developed by Toyota M

A lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) engine bay brace for the high-performance Audi R8 has been developed by the carmaker, materials supplier Hexcel and pullwinding specialist Secar

A fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) laminate with high structural integrity for use as a planar body component for vehicles is disclosed by Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW).

The first vehicle from Volvo’s performance electric vehicle company, Polestar, will feature the extensive use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP)—marking the first time the Swedish carmaker h

From 2025, at least 25% of the plastics used in Volvo’s new cars will be made from recycled material.

A bio-based resin designed specifically to combat the fire risk that lithium ion batteries pose has been launched by prepreg supplier SHD Composite Materials Ltd of Sleaford, UK.

A range of strong glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene (PP) compounds is being launched by Asahi Kasei North America of Fowlerville, Michigan, USA.

A glass bubble filler (Glass Bubbles S32HS) that enables the production of sheet-moulding compound (SMC) parts with densities of less than 1 g.cm^–3 and class-A-paintable finishes has bee

An electrically conductive ceramic coating that enables vehicle manufacturers of hybrid and electric vehicles to use carbon or glass fibre-reinforced plastic composite battery casings has been deve

A range of glass fibre-reinforced polyamide (PA) 66 compounds designed to bridge the cost–performance gap between standard engineering thermoplastics and high-temperature-resistant speciality polym

A radial tyre reinforced with lightweight composite carbon fibre belt strips is the subject of International Patent Publication WO2018/063109 by Kordsa Teknik Tekstil.

An attractive reinforced styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN) resin has been launched by Ineos Styrolution of Frankfurt, Germany.

A French consortium claims to have demonstrated the feasibility of manufacturing large, net-shape composite parts for the automotive industry on an industrial scale.

Wear-resistant nonwovens for automotive interior materials have been developed by Toyota Motor Co Ltd of Aichi, Japan.

Mechanically bonded hybrid metal and reinforced thermoset components are to be developed as the result of a joint development agreement between Sumitomo Bakelite Co Ltd of Tokyo, Japan, and GRIP Me

Far-UK has sold its controlling interest in carbon fibre braiding specialist Axon Automotive Ltd to Bawtry Investments Ltd.

A long glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene (LGFPP) instrument panel carrier for the 2017 Mini Countryman has won the Body Interior category at the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE)’s

Royal DSM has signed a framework technology partnership agreement with Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG), a subsidiary of the Toyota Motor Corp. 

Solvay of Brussels, Belgium, has acquired German producer of high-quality precursor for large-tow (50k) polyacrylonitrile (PAN) carbon fibres European Carbon Fiber GmbH (ECF) of Kelheim.

Continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastic inserts from Lanxess are being used to reinforce the injection-moulded front ends of Volkswagen’s Atlas and Teramont sports utility vehicles (SUVs), which

Gurit of Zurich, Switzerland, has won a contract for the production and supply of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) exterior car body panels from an Italian premium carmaker. 

The Composite Recycling Technology Center of Port Angeles, Washington, USA, and ELG Carbon Fibre Ltd of Coseley, UK, have manufactured an automotive seatback from recycled carbon fibre.

A method for embedding unidirectional carbon fibres in carbon fibre sheet-moulding compound (SMC) can be used to produce lightweight structural components in under three minutes, according to the U

An epoxy prepreg (HexPly M77HF) developed for a quick three-minute cure cycle using low-pressure processing techniques is to be launched by Hexcel of Stamford, Connecticut, USA.

DSM Engineering Plastics of Emmen, The Netherlands, has developed a process for the manufacture of composite high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks.

Porcher Industries of Badinières, France, is expanding in the US automotive market with the acquisition of a plant for the manufacture of parts in Altavista, Virginia. 

A consortium of international companies is being formed to drive the development of high-performance sheet moulding compound (HP-SMC), an established and cost-efficient material for the production

A sustainable adhesion system for bonding textile reinforcing materials to rubber based compounds in tyres is being developed by Continental of Hanover, Germany, and Kordsa of İzmit, Turkey. 

Toray Industries of Tokyo, Japan, is to construct a polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) compound production facility at the site of its subsidiary and large-tow carbon fibre manufacturer Zoltek in Nyerges

Automotive supplier Valeo is producing a top column module whose housing and levers are made of BASF’s Ultramid polyamide (PA) and Ultradur polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). 

Lectra has added a smaller model (FocusQuantum FT3K) to its range of laser cutters for multi-ply fabrics intended for use in airbags.