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Global Press Releases
2017-03-31
Door module carriers for compact-class vehicles
New application for Tepex from LANXESS in large series production
- Volumes that run into the millions
- Significant weight savings over steel
- Forming tools eliminated
- Supplied by LANXESS subsidiary Bond-Laminates
Increasing numbers of automotive manufacturers are using Tepex continuous-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite semi-finished products from LANXESS for the lightweight design of parts in large series production. An emerging application for the composite is the door module carrier for a compact-class vehicle from an international automotive manufacturer. LANXESS recently received a contract from German system supplier Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG to supply the carrier’s manufacturer, ElringKlinger AG, with the composite material. “The structural component exemplifies the tremendous potential opened up by our composite in cost-effective lightweight design. With our know-how in materials, virtual component design and simulation of the manufacturing process, we’ve made a key contribution to this successful development,” says Henrik Plaggenborg, Head of the Technical Marketing & Business Development Tepex Automotive group. LANXESS subsidiary Bond-Laminates, which develops and manufactures Tepex, will be supplying ElringKlinger in Europe with the Tepex composite sheet.
Cost-efficient one-shot process
The component is the result of a close partnership between Brose, ElringKlinger and LANXESS over a number of years. The weight has been cut by around 1.6 kilograms per vehicle compared with injection-molded component designs. “With four door modules, weight savings of approximately five kilograms per vehicle are possible compared with a steel version,” says Plaggenborg.
The door module carrier is produced in a hybrid molding process using forming and back-injection of Tepex directly in the injection mold. “The one-shot process industrialized by ElringKlinger eliminates the forming tool, while also enabling cost-cutting integration of functions. These two things are the key to making the component cost-effective,” says Harri Dittmar, project manager in the Technical Marketing and Business Development Group.
Tepex has already established itself in various series applications in structural lightweight automotive design. For example, it is used to produce front-end carriers, bumper beams, infotainment brackets, underfloor protection paneling, brake pedals, battery consoles, seat shells and seat backrests. “By annually supplying blanks in quantities of seven-digit figures for door module carriers, we’re once again demonstrating Tepex’s suitability for large series production on the market,” says Dr. Christian Obermann, Managing Director at Bond-Laminates.
Forward-Looking Statements
This company release contains certain forward-looking statements, including assumptions, opinions, expectations and views of the company or cited from third party sources. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the estimations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this presentation or the actual occurrence of the forecast developments. No representation or warranty (expressed or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, any information, estimates, targets and opinions, contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions or misstatements contained herein, and accordingly, no representative of LANXESS AG or any of its affiliated companies or any of such person's officers, directors or employees accept any liability whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document.
LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.7 billion in 2016 and about 16,700 employees in 25 countries. The company is currently represented at 54 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, specialty chemicals and plastics. Through ARLANXEO, the joint venture with Saudi Aramco, LANXESS is also a leading supplier of synthetic rubber. LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World) and FTSE4Good.
