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Plastics Technology, 2006-04-03, Auto Glazing: Window of Opportunity for Molders
...allenging. Polycarbonate car windows require specialized machinery, high-end processing capability, premium polymers, advanced coating technologies, and innovative mold and runner designs.

Plastics Technology, 2007-01-08, Extreme Performance--Or Processability?: New TP Polyimide Offers Both
It has the highest Tg of any amorphous thermoplastic plus premium-level chemical resistance and true melt processability with no need for post-cure.

Kunststoffe international, Amorphous Metals Combined with Elastomers
...ns. The list includes portable electronic devices, durable instruments for minimally invasive surgery, stable suspensions and wear-resistant drivetrain components for the aerospace industry, premium decor elements for cars, and abrasion-resistant watch components.

Kunststoffe international, Diverse Shapes and Applications
...o the development of new electric and hybrid vehicles. An example is Lixiang that builds unpainted exterior applications with the help of the AS) material. For Lixiang, Beijing, China, the enhanced UV resistance and lasting premium high gloss appearance with mold-in pitch black color of the ASA grade were the key criteria to selecting this material for its front grill application. The SAN based composite StyLight is also making inroads into the automotive industry (Fig. 1). This composite has be...

Kunststoffe international, Easier to Reach the Destination
... CB201SY, a 20 % carbon fiber PP compound, achieves a stiffness of around 10,000 MPa at a density of 1 g/cm³. Used for example in the center console bracket of the all-electric, premium SUV NIO ES8 (Fig.  4), CB201SY offers a 20 % reduction in part weight (when compared to conventional PP long glass fiber 40), and offers good dimensional stability for a large part of these dimensions. Yet manufacturers should keep in mind that in some instances, simply substituting one material for another is n...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Convertible Roofs: Targeting the Fresh-air Fanatics
...t concept is concealed in the latest open-top model from the BMW Group. The four-seater is outfitted with very sophisticated technology. Features such as the fully automatic top with integrated sunroof (Title photo), for instance, underscore the premium nature of the vehicle. In order to enjoy “top down” driving as quickly as possible, only 15s are required for fully automatic opening. At the push of a button, the integrated sunroof opens first, and then the complete top. While the folding top s...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Convertible Top Systems: Convertible Top – Lightweight and Made Easy
...loped the roof module for this vehicle and supplies it in series production. The design of the roofs depends very strongly on the motor vehicle type and position in the market: Roadster tops differ clearly from tops for convertibles in the premium segment through a comparatively spartan design. Hence, the Audi A4 convertible and Mercedes CLK convertible vehicles manufactured by Karmann have noise and heat insulating pad mats and an interior headliner. Different requirements on the plastic parts ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Exhibition Preview: North American and Canadian Products at K 2004
... machines as well as injection-blow models aimed at unoriented PET bottles and other applications will be introduced. Extrusion Blow Variety A new shuttle machine, described as “value-packed” with lots of features at no price premium, will be introduced by Uniloy Milacron, Manchester/Michigan (Fig. 5). Model UMS 016.D boasts an exceptionally small footprint, tiebarless accessibility to the mold area, in-machine trimming, and closed-loop position and speed control. It can handle two to six paris...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Exterior Vehicle Body Parts: Films instead of Painting?
...nally painted car bodies possible. Because of the UV-crosslinkable clearcoat, extremely high surface hardness combined with good chemical resistance is achieved. This film, which is still under development, is also suitable for use in the premium market segment. The development process at BASF Coatings AG is currently in the final scale-up phase, which will be complete by the end of 2003. Then, wide samples of the film will also be available in large quantities. Symbiosis with Conventional Pain...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Growing Profitably: BASF: "Offering Customers Clear Advantages"
...y. By clearly focusing on the business model of the future, reducing fixed costs and concentrating on profitable segments in partnership with customers, BASF plans to achieve continued successful growth in its plastics business. The aim is to earn a premium on the cost of capital. BASF intends to push ahead with the strategic development of its plastics business. This was made clear by Dr. John Feldmann, the BASF AG board member responsible for plastics, oil and gas, at the company's advanc...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Hedging to Cover Risks: New Opportunities with Fluctuations in Raw Material Prices
...n other words, they can hedge the price of the purchase contract at the agreement by means of commodity futures for the presumed final product’s sales date. Finally, this strategy ensures that the enterprise will earn the processing price premium and need not fear losses caused by currency fluctuations. As a precondition to make use of this benefit, corresponding processes have to be fixed: First, the enterprise should establish a hedging department. This department receives all the information...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, High-speed Helpers
...or and the provision of lateral access into the mould keep the space above the mould free for laminar-flow modules, so that the complete system can also be accommodated in existing cleanroom tents and cubicles where space is at a premium. Separation of Good Parts and Rejects Reversing the conveyor belt (Fig.6) enables, for example, start-up scrap and reject parts to be transported into the box on the fixed-half-half side and good parts into the box on the moving-half-half side. Left and right ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Interior Trim Parts made of Plastic: Common Ground between Automotive Technology and Design
...and disturbing noise. Because of its versatility plastic is very suitable for such complex tasks. It makes nearly any form and surface texture possible, offers outstanding acoustic characteristics and is smell neutral under normal conditions. From Premium Component to Series Use Numerous procedures are available for enhancement of plastic construction parts, for example lamination injection moulding of metals, metallising surfaces or in-mould decorating (IMD). In order to fulfil the precise ta...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, News
...anghai Association of Die and Mould formerly opened the new premises of the Chinese subsidiary. Netstal China Ltd, which started operating as an independent subsidiary on April 1 of this year, intends to position itself as a supplier of premium machines. According to the company, the main target group is processors who want to meet Western standards of quality, performance and reliability. Other activities involve the fields of packaging, PET preforms and optical storage media. The machines will...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Packaging: The Compostable Water Bottle
...compostable water bottle made of a starch-based polylactic acid (PLA) is on the market. Husky worked hand-in-hand with Biota Brands of America Inc., Cargill Dow LLC and SIG Corpoplast to develop a fully compostable bottle for Biota’s new line of premium Colorado spring water. The bottle is compatible with all municipal/industrial composting facilities, according to Cargill Dow LLC, which manufactures the corn-derived polymer NatureWorks PLA. “A Breakthrough” “We feel this application is a break...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Polymer Design and Modification: Polypropylene (PP)
...tions“ provide benefits with regard to recyclabilty and heat deflection temperature. Focus on Transparency One example: the average annual per capita ice cream consumption in Western Europe is about 10kg. Differentiation among the premium brands via packaging is increasingly becoming a key to success. Custom products such as Borpact SG930MO (Borealis) or Clyrell EC140R (Basell) captivate via their outstanding transparency, very good impact strength under deep-freeze conditions and exceptional p...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Polystyrene (PS)
...aspect that to achieve a competitive cost position investments in world scale new installations with capacities greater than 120000 tonnes per year are necessary. Increasingly in recent years polystyrene tended to lose its traditionally slight price premium compared to other standard plastics. The commodity character of polystyrene is expressed also in strongly fluctuating market prices that have led to extreme situations again and again such as unexpected consumption highs and lows because of t...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Simulation Tools: Vibro-acoustic Design of Composites
...enerally result in extremely stiff vehicle bodies that exhibit poor vibro-acoustic behaviour because of the minimal insulation and damping of structure-borne sound. In the future, however, modern lightweight vehicles, especially those in premium segment, must offer more and more comfort in the face of intensifying global competition, so that reduction of both the susceptbility to vibration and noise emission is worthy of special attention. In this regard, development of weight-saving solutions t...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Styrene Plastics: Wrapping up Beauty in an Attractive Pack
...ts offered by the cosmetics industry is exceedingly varied – and so are the demands made on the packaging. In an industry that sells beauty, exclusiveness and physical well-being, the players operate according to their own rules, especially in the premium segment of branded perfumes. Cosmetics Industry: A Demanding Consumer Market But even in the mass market of body-care products, the packaging plays an important role in communicating the specific sensations, thoughts and associations connecte...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Technological Challenge for Mould Makers: Thin-layer Packs for DVDs and Console Games
...yers were installed in the homes of music and movie enthusiasts in Germany alone. The new medium is now selling faster than VHS video cassettes. While the price of the players continues to fall, that of the DVDs themselves is often still up in the premium range. To make the customer aware from the very beginning of the high quality of the new medium, the industry has also invested a lot in the packaging. With its sophisticated and unconventional hinging, insertion and securing mechanisms, the pr...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, The Future Role of the Plastics Producers
...hat the earnings, margins and yield of plastics producers have been constantly falling over the past few years. This development in yield is unacceptable for the plastics producers from the capital point of view [2]. On the one hand, investors pay a premium for the capacity to open up market and added-value potential and, on the other hand, the concentration of purchasing power will lead to lasting changes in the added-value chain. "Added-value pools" will thus form, with the plastics pr...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Trends at the IAA: Shop Window for Innovations in the Motor Industry
...e next few years will be more than twice the expected increase in car production," says Mercer. The most important growth drivers are the increasing importance of the interior as a differentiating criterion and the growth of the premium segment. Mounting Demands on the Interior To be able to comply with these mounting demands on vehicle interiors and still guarantee the necessary economic viability, plastics are playing an ever increasing role in the product strategies of the car manufacture...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, What Customer Focus Really Means
...ir processes in view of technological and raw materials constraints. In so doing, they must use world-scale facilities and exploit all global possibilities for procuring the cheapest raw materials possible. Global presence will strengthen business. Premium products are desirable, but do not last long. Above all, plastics producers must strive for operational excellence. Plastics machine-makers must further enhance their technical expertise. Global acceptance and global sales of their machines wi...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-01-15, Mouldmaking Technology at Fakuma und EuroMold: Engineering Lights Comes Out from Under the Bushel
... customer before and after the start of series production. “Our service begins with the rheological analysis of the part geometry and ends with secure storage of expensive moulds. Our customers can profit from the insurance premium when we store the most valuable production means, namely, the moulds, professionally in our mould bunker. This allows them to convert the high fixed costs associated with storage at the company into variable costs.“ Series accomplished, production of spare parts with...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-02-24, “Space Puzzle Molding“: Efficient Small Batch Production
... and delivering them to the responsible subcontractor, a system supplier and car refinement company in Cadolzburg. The Automobilmanufaktur Dresden is the delivery address for yet another plastic part of the Phaeton, Volkswagen’s premium car: A two-part protective cover for a refrigeration unit. The part design and mould had to pass through an alteration process despite careful work in the preceding stages. SPM moulds allow alterations at each project stage and thus support modifications. In this...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-03-23, Food Packaging: To Each Yoghurt Tub, Its Own Polystyrene
... FFS is estimated to account for one quarter of this. This represents roughly 250000t. Preformed packaging – i.e. FS tubs – almost matches this percentage, but has different application areas: preformed containers are mostly used for premium products because they offer plenty of scope for printing and optical design. FFS tubs are primarily used for mass-produced articles and small portions, such as those for coffee cream. Nevertheless, both processes are fighting over the same market: as soon a...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-05-10, Editorial: Robotic Colleagues
...oduction of consumer goods, in particular, have only two routes to success open to them, given the keen competition that prevails. They must either optimise their processes and produce within a competitive cost framework or succeed in commanding premium prices on the market through effective product differentiation. Neither strategy can generally get by without automation. In the first case, these "no-wage" helpers keep production costs down, and also make it possible for the companies t...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-08-06, Trade Fair Report: Chinaplas – the Leading Asian Trade Fair of the Future?
...-built equipment. The screws and barrels are produced in China, but the gearboxes are procured from European manufacturers that produce in China“, emphasised Füreder further. The company also exhibited the new premium series of vacuum tanks and spray baths that are marketed specifically in the Asian regions. These products as well as all downstream equipment for pipe up to a diameter of 630mm will also be produced at the Chinese facility in the future. With a World Record at the Trade Fair Aft...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-08-31, PU Technology: Discovering New Possibilities
...with a wide range of different fibres or fillers. The CSM variant for processing Multitec allows both reinforced and unreinforced PU layers to be sprayed on in any desired combination. Dr. Kleba illustrated this with the pilot application of a premium-class bath tub, designed by Porsche. This is made up of thermoformed acryl sheet and a multilayer support structure in Multitec, both with and without chopped glass fibre, metered into the spray jet from outside, plus foamed spray-moulded layers. (...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-11-15, Editorial: Generating Added Value
...from the automotive and plastics industry present solutions which are already dealing right now with the issues of tomorrow. Michael Macht, Board Member with responsibility for Production and Logistics at Porsche AG comments on how this successful premium sports car manufacturer intends to continue generating considerable added value in future – both in Germany and for its exports – through the “Made in Germany” quality label. Material scientist Dr. Thomas Schuh, Head of Polymer Technology at Da...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-01-22, Needle Valves for Decorative Applications
...ever, the deviations of the melt temperature from the optimum value can be critical. Excessive melt temperatures can lead to partial discoloration of the label or even cause it to be melted through. Such defects are unacceptable, and not only for premium packaging. At the high volume flow rates and injection velocities that are required in high-speed thin-wall packaging, friction in the nozzle tip and gate is another critical factor. Too high a temperature as a result of friction not only result...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-03-15, Recovery after Value Added Tax Shock
...om politicians. The introduction of penalty taxes and CO2 charges is being discussed, however not effectuated on the market in 2007. Thus the first customer reactions might arise toward the end of 2007. Among the German auto producers the premium producers are particularly endangered by this. For Audi, Mercedes and BMW the deviations from the self-restraint goal lie in the 30% region. Porsche is as much as 110% over the goal. The ACEA self-restraint goal is not defined for individual manufacture...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-08-14, No Risk, No Profit
...e strong tendency of patients to self-medicate and the displacement of glass by plastic. The guest presentations covered the approach of transferring innovative and cost efficient processes from the telecommunication sector to the manufacture of premium quality medical articles (Harald Grün, Balda Medical), the recognition of how macro-trends in medical technology affect the development of technical plastics (Rob E. de Jong, GE Plastics) and the need for standardization in tool manufacture (Mart...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-09-19, 450 Parts under the Same Lid
...rements Prior to actual product development, both enterprises sought an economic solution to completely integrate all of the complex technical parts beneath the ceramic of the wall-mounted toilet. While meeting the demands of functionality, the premium product’s style certainly had to be paid special attention to. This is why Geberit asked Noventa to conduct a feasibility study on how to develop the planned shower WC. Engineers aimed at finding a build-in solution, meaning the system was to be ...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-09-19, Face Lifts for Molded Parts
...pped with a quick change system. Different tube diameters do not require changes to the gearbox that rotates the tubes. The new MO 4083/8 eight color printing machine expands Moss’ product range for printing plastic buckets. In order to achieve premium quality printing with high gloss and deep colors it can be combined with the MP8-LAC coating line with UV curing. The Italian manufacturer is also offering a new multi-color machine for the printing of bottle closures with a production rate of 400...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-09-19, Versatile Material with Unlimited Potential?
...or serial production in cast-skin technology (Fig.4). In 2009, the aromatic PU sprayed skin from Elastogran with the aliphatic PU surface is to be employed for the first time in Europe in large-scale production by a car manufacturer in the premium sector and will gradually establish itself as an alternative to the previously used methods for surface decoration. In the USA and Asia, BASF has already implemented several volume applications on the basis of Elastoskin I and PU sprayed skin technolog...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-10-21, Bioplastics
...from corn, wheat or sugar, can be processed into beverage bottles like PET. Though it is still greatly limited in terms of the number of applications, its potential is obvious. The first products are available on the market and the price premium is dropping. The controversy ultimately centered around the question of PET recycling: PET bottles are easier to mechanically recycle than almost any other plastic products. The product quality of the recyclates, and therefore the cost effectiveness of t...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-10-21, Surfaces for Luxury Automobiles
...o the plastic part and which appear after electroplating are reduced considerably. Popup due to outgassing is avoided; flow marks are concealed. Protected Real Wood In addition to the cool technical look of metal, auto buyers in the premium segment frequently require the warm atmosphere of real wood. To date, production of components out of wood and plastic was a very involved process at the end of which stood surface treatment to make the components resistant to environmental factors and trac...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-11-21, Everything in a Seat
...ve interests of the entire Group, the new team is intended to bundle BASF’s entire car seat know-how, and make it available to processors and designers. www.plasticsportal.com Fig. 0. This automotive seat is manufactured by the South German premium seat manufacturer Recaro for the new OPC sports model of the Opel Corsa. Virtually all parts of the prototype derived from this were made from materials from a single manufacturer Fig. 1. The automotive seat of tomorrow: BASF products for car seats

Kunststoffe international, 2007-11-21, Flexible Production of Food Packaging
... market is highly competitive; quality demands are putting pressure on designers – to say that food packaging requires a high quality design, food-compatible properties and high transport stability is nothing new – and it is particularly true of premium brands. As part production generally runs continuously 24/7 and not rarely reaches annual production rates in the double-digit million range, it is important to reduce material consumption to a minimum. Ensuring the reliability and economy of pro...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-11-21, New Boost for Plastic Parts
...eved this by using a lost gasket, which seals the colors to each other during processing, remains in the part after curing and is invisible in the final work piece. This method lends itself to all vehicle classes, from lower midsize through to premium. Wholly comparable goals are being pursued by the Dolphin consortium (the patent-protected Dolphin method was developed by Georg Kaufmann Formenbau AG, in Busslingen, Switzerland, together with BASF AG in Ludwigshafen, Germany, P-Group Deutschland ...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-12-17, German-Chinese Synergies
German-Chinese Synergies Two-brand Strategy. Haitian, the Chinese manufacturer of injection molding machines, has set out to conquer the world market including its premium segment. Management’s new two-brand strategy leaves no doubt as to the seriousness of their purpose. Clemens Doriat Our vision of ourselves is to lead the world market in terms of piece numbers as well as sales," says Zhang Jianzhang, Board Chairman for Haitian International Holdings Ltd. The first part of this target...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-12-17, Hollow Objects
...ted 4-fold production of a 200ml milk bottle using a tandem blow technique. In addition, Bekum presented a glass-clear 2-liter handle container developed for the European market based on a copolyester from Eastman. This container is targeted at the premium packaging market and was being produced in a 2x2-cavity mold on a model BM 406 D blow molding machine. Uniloy Milacron SRL, Magenta, Italy, used the exhibition to introduce a hybrid version of its time-tested Model UMS 16.S blow molding machin...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-02-17, Premium Surface Protection
Premium Surface Protection Polyamide Sheets Décor films based on polyamide are replacing varnishing in the area of engine covers, giving them precious metallic looks. For several years already, films have been successfully used as protective and decorative elements in sports articles. They impress consumers by their constantly new and sumptuous designs. High temperatures, chemicals, mechanical impact – a component in an engine compartment must cope with requirements that are sometimes diffic...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-02-29, Design and Lighting Technology
...e lighting represents the threshold of a new era. The world’s first all-LED headlight is on market. Use of LEDs for signal light applications has been commonplace for some time now, and is becoming more common for interior lighting applications in premium class vehicles. At the same time, various sensor and camera technologies are finding their place among automotive applications. Networking these technologies will generate a host of new light-assisted systems. These trends and the resulting cha...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-02-29, Thermal Analysis for High-Quality Cars
...ounts or weak thermally induced transitions (Fig.3). Multifrequency Temperature-Modulated DSC (TOPEM) Composites of carbon fibers and a resin matrix (CFRP) are used in various ways in automotive engineering. The CFRP body and chassis of some premium manufacturers save a third of the weight compared to aluminum. Since the carbon fibers absorb four to five times more energy than aluminum or steel, this complex material structure improves collision safety. Developing even more efficient composite...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-04-14, From the Pressure to Innovate to a State of Exhaustion
...services. New approaches in terms of services might include an availability guarantee, preventive maintenance contracts or financing options. The price for the mold could consist of two parts, the base price and an availability premium. Another important aspect is exchange of data between the injection molder and moldmaker during the useful life of the mold. This exchange of information would help to optimize the next mold to the machine and the needs of the customer (Fig. 2). Expanding on the a...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-04-14, Material Handling as an Overall Solution
...gh Purity Requirements Where quality and safety are concerned, the manufacture of plastic products for medical applications imposes the most stringent demands on the production process. The hygiene and cleanliness demands on the manufacturers are a premium because of demand for products with increasingly less contamination. The top priority, therefore, is to prevent contamination of the plastic throughout the manufacturing process. This calls for cleanroom-compliant total solutions, from storag...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-07-15, Three Steps to Success
... a production concept that uses twocomponent technology to manufacture the polycarbonate headlamp covers of the new Audi R8 sports car. Automotive industry can not tolerate technical or aesthetical imperfections, and this particularly applies to the premium sector. Automotive Lighting therefore decided to improve their temperature control equipment, choosing gwk Gesellschaft Wärme Kältetechnik mbH in Kierspe, Germany, as their system supplier. Technical Center for Lighting Engineer...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-08-14, Planting without Shards
...f, Germany, replies to the heretical question as to why the company doesn’t supply the plastic planters that it brought onto the market a few years ago in the classical look of ceramic planters. And, with a wink, he adds: ”We’ve got a premium product here – we can’t, after all, convert the true terracotta lovers, who derive great pleasure from buying new pots each spring to replace the ones that the frost has cracked during the winter.“ An Ingenious Means of Preventing Sink Marks Anyone who wasn...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, Injection Molding Machines Become “Green”
...l-time Varan bus. This simplifies operation and full fault diagnosis for all machine functions, boosting safety and reliability for operators and machine. By fitting uniform connectors, KraussMaffei opens up to AX customers the whole spectrum of its premium plasticizing units, tried-and-tested in the company’s CX and EX machines. Easy access to all machine modules and the swing-out injection unit make for shorter set-up times. This improves the productivity of AX machines, especially proc...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, Set for Special Applications
...aste of injection molding shops. With this material in comparison with new product, cost savings of the order of 1 Euro per kg can be achieved. The next higher quality level consists of recycled materials that have been blended with new product. The premium quality level is occupied by compounds made from new product that are used for special performance profiles or decorative effects. Hall A7, booth 4114

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, The Energy Crisis is Playing into our Hands
...ranges on the market... Straub: Exactly right. The AX has been positioned as a universal electric machine and so will complement our EX series and alongside our high performance EX machines we have, if I speak for the group as a whole, an absolutely premium machine in the Netstal Elion. Kunststoffe: Why are you bothering at all to build the AX? Bourdon: One has to be clear about one thing: KraussMaffei is a full range supplier and when we have a conversion wave in the small machine market worldw...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-10-17, COsub>2/sub>– Climate Killer or Plastics Feedstock?
...he electrolysis of water, namely that it is energy-intensive, thus loses most of its foundation because of this dual use. As Figure 4 shows, breaking down water into hydrogen and oxygen requires <10 kWh per kg methanol or, put another way, adds a premium of around EUR 0.5 per kg to the price of methanol, the exact amount depending on the price of electrical energy. Since carbon dioxide is available for free or, because money is received for it, the energy costs are no longer an argument. Than...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-10-17, Styrene Copolymers (ABS, ASA, SAN, MABS)
...) supply customers around the world with a few standard ABS grades of constant quality. In parallel with this trend towards “commoditization”, some manufacturers have also spotted the market opportunities for specialty products and premium applications, and developed organizationally as a “price before volume” strategy. Thus, BASF presents its “PlasticsPlus” range, which offers customers both tailored products and special services (design factory...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-11-20, More Small Cars
...eans that small cars are meeting with increasing customer interest. On the sellers’ side, small cars constitute a key element of the car makers’ strategy for improving their CO2 balance and are thus of major importance for mass manufacturers and premium manufacturers alike. The CO2 targets for Europe cannot be achieved with engine, gear and tire technology and lightweight-construction techniques alone. Small cars are necessary in order to bring down the average. As of 2012, new cars sold in the ...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-06-16, Mirror, Mirror on the Door
An impressive 14 million plastic parts per year leave the plant in Assamstadt, Germany. In the small town in the Main-Tauber region, Magna Spiegelsysteme GmbH produces interior and exterior mirrors for German manufacturers of premium-class automobiles. The company is part of Magna Mirror Systems, a subsidiary of one of the world’s leading automotive suppliers Magna International Inc. The mirror specialists develop and produce, among other things, interior and exterior mirror systems, electro-chr...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-07-16, Plastic Bodies
...died. As a result, a customizable multi-material concept will be possible in the future. A high degree of functional integration increases the economic benefits. This naturally increases part complexity. E-LFT injection molding offers a premium addition to small and medium-sized parts. Several fully automatable and mass-producible joining technologies have already been devised for high-load-bearing composite parts, and can also offer maximum versatility even for very large parts. There is still ...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-11-19, From the Virtual World to Directly Under the Hood
...ared to a metal component with comparable functionality, the sports car manufacturer is able to achieve a weight savings of 35 %. Requirement: Permanence and Esthetics With a power of up to 500 HP, the Panamera is the Porsche among the four-doored Premium-Gran Turismo. Such high-performance vehicles present special challenges when it comes to engine mounts. For this innovative automobile, Porsche selected an equally novel material solution. Since the stabilizer is visible when the hood is open, ...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-11-19, Hot-Embossed MID Modules for Enhanced Thermal Requirements
...olded interconnect devices) to construct microsystems because they offer freedom of design and the possibility of integrating mechanical, electrical and optical functions. This has spawned numerous applications in intricate areas where space is at a premium, especially in the automotive sector. A breakdown of the various application areas is shown in Figure 1. The demands of the automotive industry for greater comfort, safety and environmental performance are being met primarily by integrating e...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-01-27, Ten Things Nobody Has Ever Tried
...pening up applications that have hitherto been blocked to all-electric machines, especially in thin-wall technology and packaging. The new Mercury series rounds out the top end of the Zhafir portfolio, which is the conglomerate’s premium brand (the “Haitian” targets standard applications and the “Tianjian” the mass market, exclusively with hydraulic machines). After more than two years’predevelopment work in Ebermannsdorf, nearly 400 individual parts, all draughted in Germany and all made in Chi...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-03-17, Innovations People are Talking about
...stics concepts and overall economic processes in the supplier process chain. Here modular construction methods will be at the center of focus. Kunststoffe: Numerous innovations in- and outside the car are often tried out first on the premium segment before they trickle down to more economical models. Can I find out more about this in Mannheim, Germany? Stauber: Fact is, that innovations in plastics for automobile construction are targeted for one specific segment, sports utility vehicles or conv...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-08-19, Rising Temperature? We are Getting Back to Normal
... the founding of the first Arburg subsidiary in France and are very successful around the world. This is shown not only in the numbers, but above all in highly satisfied customers around the world that praise our local service no less than our premium products. We have received this feedback for example at this year's Chinaplas, which is increasingly developing on the Chinese market toward being the most important trade fair for the entire Asian region. Kunststoffe: Asia is no longer only a...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, An Industry on Tenterhooks
...um efficiency of the drive system for each velocity and pressure size. Engel is meeting the market’s high demand for closure cap production with an all-electric solution. The newly designed e-cap (Fig. 3) is equipped with an improved premium design of the injection unit, increased ejector force and a more powerful mold closing drive. In a trade show demonstration, an e-cap 3940/420 T produces closure caps from PE-HD on a 96-cavity mold from Schöttli AG in a cycle time of less than 3 s. In additi...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, Elastic Diversity
...sources are a recurrent theme running through the preview of exhibitors. A variety of solutions, based on different material structures, can be seen and the first successful applications are on display. The days of the “green premium” are past. If renewable resources are to be used, the end product must be at least as good as its petrochemical counterpart. This applies both to properties and cost efficiency. At the same time, the concepts must be sustainable, because if, for example, plants from...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, On a Westward Course
...e Mercury, to be released for sale following the K fair. New from the ground up, Mercury is a fully electric injection molding machine (cf. Kunststoffe international 1/2010, p. 10). It was developed for so-called high-end premium segment users who produce medical or high-precision engineering parts, for example, or are considering new design shapes and previously unprocessable plastics. Several models with clamp forces ranging from 300 to 5,000 kN are being planned for this new line that will go...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-11-25, Coming Out of the Red!
...s only compensate for price cuts in some 20 to 30 % of vehicle modules, while 70 to 80 % are exposed to unmitigated cost pressure. Not only are most modules affected by the cost pressure but also all vehicle segments – from low-cost to premium models (Fig. 2). So suppliers have to adapt to the fact that price pressure on German premium brands will also continue to increase. The Oliver Wyman study shows that the savings requirements by premium OEMs are constantly increasing and in the next few ye...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-09-23, With Networked Competence to High-Performance Parts
...ve been used for decades for rotor blades, wings or tail units and as cabin linings due to their outstanding properties. Carbon fiber-reinforced parts are also used in small series in the automotive industry, as structural parts predominantly in Premium class vehicles, and also for optical reasons for interior linings or vehicle exteriors. Examples are side panels, floor pans, bumper brackets or crash boxes as well as “carbon-look” facings. Compared with equivalent parts made from conventional m...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-10-17, Polycarbonate (PC)
...part with integrated glazing, rear lights, turn signals, and brake lights. The numberplate light and high-mounted brake light are located behind the polycarbonate outer skin (photo: Bayer MaterialScience) Fig. 3. A new PC/PET premium recyclate has properties comparable with those of an established PC for auto body parts and meets the automotive industry’s strictest specifications (photo: Bayer MaterialScience) Fig. 4. Besides the display panel, the center console has backlit display symbols, who...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-10-17, Polypropylene (PP)
... odors and emissions are all fundamental selection criteria that help the desired results be obtained. Meanwhile, polypropylene has become so advanced that it is increasingly displacing polymers like ABS and (ABS+PC) blends from the premium segment. A typical premium material for interiors is Daplen EE189HP, which is a talcumreinforced, elastomer-modified PP grade that combines excellent scratch resistance with low gloss while having a balanced profile of mechanical properties. High purity requi...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-11-18, Flood Coatings
...to establish the ideal release agent for individual applications. As an all-in supplier, Votteler develops and produces not only the coating material (Puriflow) but also all the individual components of coating systems. In the case of premium wood trim parts that are used in transport vehicles (cars, airplanes and boats), everything from the treatment of the veneer, via the coloring, right through to the top coating thus comes from a single source. The company places particular value on ensuring...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-06-25, Taking Control
...ly adjusted cycle by cycle via the machine’s host computer interface or the hot runner or tool temperature control interfaces. Real World Use for the Automotive Supplier The Continental production facility in Villingen-Schwenningen supplies many premium automotive OEM brands in the commercial vehicle sector. Dashboard instruments, displays, toll systems and tachographs are just a few examples. Since 2006 regulations have required a digital tachograph for commercial vehicles over 3.5 t and buses ...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-09-17, The Level of Automation is 85 Percent
... were used, the new system now employs a 4+4-cavity two-part mold with hot runner and valve gate nozzles (manufacturer: Otto Männer GmbH, Bahlingen, Germany). It has 43 control points and a maximum heat output of 38.3 kW. Premium Quality Worldwide As mentioned, the manufacturing cell now has only one injection molding machine. The Allrounder 720 S 3200-800/100 has a clamping force of 3,200 kN, is equipped with two injection units of size 800 and 100, and is combined with the described automation...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-10-15, It Pays to Put More into Development
...outset, so that the necessary financial and time requirements can be factored into the design phase. This outlay is small and, moreover, calculable, compared with the often extremely expensive changes that occur when time is at a premium just prior to startup of series production. Consequently, the extra outlay, which actually proves not to be extra outlay, generally pays off in the form of reduced overall costs. The design of this mixing and dispensing bottle called for undercuts which seemed t...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-10-15, Toolmaking in Transformation
...ork together in clusters, closely intermeshed and long term on defined topical fields [4]. German toolmakers can only maintain their technical lead through their innovative strength, and so continue to justify their premium prices. Against the background of the demand for launching new, customized, top quality products at attractive prices faster than the competition, the resource of know-how for toolmaking companies is becoming a crucial production factor. Here, systematic knowledge management ...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-11-26, From the Garage to a Hotbed of Technology
...ferent materials, explained Haverkamp. It is hardly surprising that lightweight construction technology is also extremely important for aircraft engineering. With the example of the A350 XWB, Axel Deters, head of parts production Bremen at Premium Aerotec GmbH (a subsidiary of Airbus), spoke about highly automated CRP thermoplastic production. Airbus required reproducible processes for this. Frimo’s production line was able to meet these requirements and, because of the small lot sizes, product ...

Kunststoffe international, 2013-05-16, Joining of Large Parts
...esign, exhibit weaknesses in visible areas, are often insufficiently dimensionally stable and are still too inflexible and expensive for industrial production. With the series production qualification of the TwinWeld3D technology with several German premium automobile manufacturers, however, laser welding would appear to have achieved a major breakthrough also in this segment. The possibilities offered by the laser welding of automobile rear lights have been demonstrated to date predominantly by...

Kunststoffe international, 2013-08-19, Machine Manufacturers Tool Up for K2013
... as a surprise? Tinschert: We will only disclose that just before the start of the show, so that it stays a surprise. We want to shore up our market position as a premium manufacturer in terms of precision and speed. What are the important trends currently dominating the industry in your view? Golz: Netstal has aligned itself with the trend towards increasing production and energy efficiency. For its customers, it produces complete high-quality turnkey system solutions, comprising injection mold...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-01-23, Trend Report: A Sector with Plenty of Potential
...s for enabling customers to run versatile, efficient film-production operations. Thus, high output no longer is the main focus of the innovations presented. Instead, the machine makers are placing a strong emphasis on line versatility, production of premium film, energy efficiency and user-friendly controllers. Versatile Blown Film Extrusion Windmöller & Hölscher KG, Lengerich, Germany, presented the Varex II, a substantial upgrade to its proven Varex concept (Fig. 1). The new Arctis air ring is...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-02-20, Bio-Polybutylene Terephthalate: Opportunities for “Green” Plastics
...tics are competitive with petro-based plastics in terms of their price-performance ratio. It is still unclear whether, and to what extent, customers and consumers will accept a price premium on engineering thermoplastics for the “green” label – partly because of the current lack of availability of commercial products. At present, however, it seems that “green” engineering thermoplastics can only command a higher price in special niche applications while on the other hand bio-based materials stil...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-03-21, Seat Cushion Manufacturing: And Everything Fits
...of seat cushions. John Faulkner, Director of Cab Automotive, is quite pleased with the result. This English automobile supplier located in Tipton, West Midlands, specializes in the manufacture of high-end seats for the automotive industry. In premium brands, such as Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar, Landrover or McLaren, one not only sits especially comfortably, but also on rear seat cushions produced, e.g., by Cab Automotive. Large system suppliers such as IAC, Faurecia, Magna or Toyoda are also c...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-08-19, New Ideas and Political Markets
...ure can be reduced to a low level by a combination of materials or a very thin silicate or aluminum coating. The cost stands in the way of mass applications, but there are enough niches for organic food or premium products. The combination with cardboard or paper is quite promising, since the blocking effect of these composites against non-polar solvents is outstanding (Fig. 3). No pre-treatment is required for printing, and many ecologically advantageous printing processes qualify.Injection-mol...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-10-10, Manipulation Eliminated
...ltra-destructible solvent cast films made of vinyl polymer meet especially high security requirements by disintegrating as soon as someone peels them off a surface. Solvent film-casting technology makes it possible to manufacture industrial films of premium quality. Thanks to microfiltration of the polymer solution as well as low mechanical and thermal loading of the material during casting and drying, solution cast films exhibit high purity and a uniform thickness profile as well as outstanding...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-10-10, Natural Fibers Gently Heated
...ocess, which is coupled with high investment costs and a large space requirement. Among other things this could be the reason why natural fiber materials are increasingly gaining attention in the European automotive industry only at premium manufacturers. Manufacturers of middle-class automobiles prefer the cheaper injection molding process.This work shows that several press stations in the conventional pressing process can be avoided by using semi-finished natural fiber organic sheets and IR he...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-10-10, Polyoxymethylene (Polyacetal, POM)
...both of which are aimed at a large number of medical articles that are not intended for implantation. The SC grades (SC = Special Control) are made to very high product uniformity specifications, while the PC grades (PC = Premium Control) are subject to more rigorous standards. Their production and properties are monitored more intensively, and their listing in the DMF is assured. Both series feature moderate to ready-flowing Delrin POM homopolymers, including nucleated or friction- and wear-opt...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-10-10, Sophisticated Skin Design
...ew challenges.Requirements Imposed on Decorative Automotive Interior SurfacesHigh perceived value, stylish looks, and a pleasant touch are the chief "soft" factors – in the truest sense of the word. These are becoming less and less the preserve of premium or upper range vehicles, and are finding their way into vehicles in the mid-to-lower price segments.Components and assemblies in modern automotive interiors are becoming increasingly complex, especially their shapes and contours. This three-dim...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-10-10, Styrene Copolymers
... concept by which shrink-wrap films and sleeves are made from Styrolux T and Styrolux S. This concept allows processors to customize the film’s mechanical and shrinkage properties. New quality standards in terms of defects have been set for premium products in this demanding market segment and have led to excellent printability.Food packaging continues to be an application for SBC polymers in multi-layer composite films with other polymers, some of which provide functional tasks, such as gas bar...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-11-26, The Right Changeover Point for Each Shot
...ed over the entire production time, but also from shot to shot.Accelerated Start-up ProcessesKTW Kunststofftechnik Weissenburg GmbH & Co. KG is a tier 1 supplier to the automotive industry and supplies high-quality products to a number of premium suppliers. They include decorative elements for exterior and interior use, as well as wheelhouse shells, which the company produces for almost all German OEMs (Title figure).They are produced on a type MX 2300-1200 injection molding machine (manufacture...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-03-17, Cockpit Module for the Jaguar F-Type
The cockpit module of the new Jaguar F-Type must meet high demands. In particular, this involves the extreme loads on the dashboard during an airbag deployment as well as the high perceived quality expected from a premium vehicle. In close cooperation with the plastics producer, and with customized plastic materials plus innovative processing and simulation procedures, the automotive supplier was able to fulfill all the requirements. Lightweight construction is and remains one of the most import...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-03-17, Electronics Set the Pace
... simple applications worked, today complex turnkey systems ensure high quality serial production of complete functional units for motor vehicles. One example is the production of sensor housing covers for the electronic accelerator pedals of several premium automotive manufacturers. Whether speeder or defensive driving style – in modern motor vehicles, the actuation of the accelerator pedal is processed via the engine control system. A sensor, usually designed as a double potentiometer, communic...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-05-21, Because Nitrogen Weighs (Almost) Nothing
... foam process, is not yet so extensive as was predicted a decade ago.As an official partner, KraussMaffei Technologies GmbH, Munich, Germany, offers complete injection molding systems with the technology of the U. S. developer of MuCell, Trexel Inc. Premium manufacturers in the automotive industry currently use vehicles produced in relatively small numbers in field tests in order to transfer the technology to high-volume models at a later date. And the process could also be attractive for indust...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-07-20, Liquid Masterbatch Systems
... dosing amounts or infrequent color changes.Gear pumps, widely known as melt pumps, can also be used for dosing liquid masterbatches. They offer high accuracy across the entire dosing range and can additionally be employed where space is at a premium.Modern dosing systems offer the possibility of inputting product-related formulations which, having been input, can be retrieved for every new production run. Clariant has also tested and approved gravimetric-type dosing systems. These eliminate the...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-08-17, Major Plans
Following the expansion of its Ebermannsdorf site by the end of 2016 at the latest with the associated doubling of its capacities, Haitian International will in future assemble both standard machines and machines of the premium brand in Germany. While Haitian is planning in almost monumental dimensions in China, the German subsidiary of the Chinese injection molding machine manufacturer is expanding its service and sales activities in small steps. The Chinese injection molding machine manufactur...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-09-18, Standardization instead of Unnecessary Work
Electronic locking systems have been standard fittings for premium vehicles for some years. It goes without saying that this requires sophisticated technical components. Huf Tools manufactures the molds for injection molding such parts. With the changeover to preassembled systems by the hot-runner manufacturer Synventive, Huf was able to improve its efficiency and process stability. As an automotive supplier, we can’t afford any protracted process interruptions," says Andreas Hill, department he...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-09-18, Strong Links and Brilliant Surfaces
...orming machines our enterprise is able to supply at present. As a result, the basic price has doubled." Martin Kremsreiter states: "The high standards and quality demands are determined by our clients as well as their components and markets. Premium customers call for premium equipment." Frank Peters adds: "Considering our vast range of different variants, this range of equipment with its respective investments is simply indispensable. This is the only way to keep our production competitive."Man...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-10-12, In-Mold Foamed Cores for Lightweight Design
... the mass production of complex composite components. But with a new, in-mold foamed, production-ready sandwich foam core based on polymethacrylimide, more than 50,000 complex 3-D sandwich components can be efficiently produced per annum. In sports, premium, and electric vehicles, e. g. the Alfa Romeo 4C or BMW i3 and i8, the high stiffness and functional integration of fiber-reinforced plastics are increasingly being exploited for lightweight design. Typical lightweight automotive components ar...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-11-23, From Design to Volume Production
...d ahead by having to operate many different switches. This new development was made possible by the early and trusting cooperation of all partners involved in the project. Driving has now become more than just a journey from A to B. Manufacturers of premium cars, in particular, want to offer their customers a package of technology, quality, and lifestyle. This ranges from engine technology and driver assistance systems through control concepts for various functions and instrument displays to des...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-03-08, Lightweight Material with Class A Surface
...ec’s expertise encompasses selection of the right processing parameters for the RRIM machine (including air nucleation and material and mold temperatures), as well as mold and component design and further processing of the components to deliver premium paintability.Density Reduction with Lightweight FillerThe previous rear apron design was produced with Bayflex 180, also a tough-elastic PU elastomer system made by Covestro. This material has a much higher density (1.26 g/cm3) than Bayflex Light...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-03-08, The Future of Automotive Interiors
... vehicle-status messages, e. g. red indicates the transition from self-drive mode to autonomous driving, while blue signifies relaxed autonomous driving [4]. From Compact to FoamedPolyurethane (PU) spray skins have been widely used in mid-to-premium range vehicles since 1993 to provide the surface of dashboards and door trim. They supplemented established molded skins made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC-P), and thermoformed films (Fig. 3). They received an additional fillip when multi-colored (one...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-10-17, Bioplastics
...newcomer in the (bio)plastics market.PolyethyleneBio-based polyethylene (PE) already has a few years of market development behind it. Braskem S. A., Sao Paolo, Brazil, is the only manufacturer so far to successfully position the polymer as a premium product in the tremendously tough commodity sector – without new functionalities, only through a very small CO₂ footprint. The customer base is growing and distribution channels continue to be developed. Food makers who have often avoided bio-based p...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-10-17, Polycarbonate (PC)
...y in Europe in Wiesbaden, Germany, during the summer of 2016.Flexible Series – Customized Automobile InteriorsPC material development is currently driven by the trend towards customized vehicle interiors. From compact cars to the premium segment – individual, tailor-made design and styling versions that can be produced flexibly even in smaller numbers are in demand. Various PC manufacturers are pursuing an integrated material and process approach suitable for series production, allowing varied s...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-10-17, Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)
...pot light. Special headlamp optics with complicated light guide and lens systems of PMMA can illuminate different fields of view on the road with LED light, depending on the vehicle speed. Until recently, such high-tech solutions were reserved for premium vehicles. Auto manufacturers are using modern headlamps more and more for mid-class cars, too, and thereby further stimulating PMMA demand.However, with all their advantages for headlamps, LEDs are also an acid test for the material used. Depen...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-10-17, Polypropylene (PP)
... Whereas the double-sided printed labels have a practical function and more space for additional (publicity/product) information, the metallic trend is a fashion or designer phenomenon, which gives the product a cool "premium look" and is mainly required for cosmetics, color and storage boxes and high-quality food packaging [11].But material replacement within the polyolefin family is also resulting in ever more applications, such as in the insulation of data cables, where the transmission frequ...

Kunststoffe international, 2017-08-21, Lightweight, Fast, and Individual
...ent focus. These are the extremes. And we also notice them in the requirements and specification that the bottles have to meet, such as: What do they have to withstand, including handling. How comfortably do they fit in the hand. With premium products, in particular, this presents quite a different challenge than for low-budget or discount products. Kunststoffe: For the sake of comparison, is it just the same in the glass bottle market? Or is this packaging sector subject to different market tre...

Kunststoffe international, 2017-09-20, Dry Ice Shower for Complex Components
...em again", notes Oliver Bolk. WThe Author is Marketing Manager DE at the Cold Jet GmbH in Weinsheim, Germany; crach@coldjet.comCompany ProfileFounded 1983, Autotest is a system supplier of the automotive and supplier industry in the international premium segment. The core competencies of the group, based in South Tyrol, includes concept, design, prototyping and modeling, tooling and mold making, production, painting, refining, assembly and logistics of interior and exterior parts made out of PU,...

Kunststoffe international, 2017-09-20, Systematic Approach Pays Off
"Objectives are more readily attained by managing and steering activities and associated employees as a process." This is a statement taken from the management manual of the company Brita. The premium manufacturer of products for optimizing drinking water deploys the versatile Varimos software program from Simcon to aid with its engineering and process optimization activities. Water, as everyone knows, is the font of life. For decades, Brita GmbH, headquartered in Taunusstein, Germany, has dedic...

Kunststoffe international, 2017-10-13, Previously Unheard-of Technology with Even More Potential
...olving IML film screen printing, shaping, punch press pressing and positioning in the mold. Holograms can serve, for example, as a proof of authenticity for products where counterfeiting may be an issue, such as in the case of premium quality cosmetics. However, even in cases where manufacturers want to place their logo on a consumer electronics device, here they have a visually and cost-effective alternative to such processes as (secondary) painting, pad printing or hot embossing. Manufacturers...

Kunststoffe international, 2017-11-29, Miracles of Efficiency
... functions that a barrier layer can perform. It can prevent the escape of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the penetration of oxygen, to prolong the durability of the bottle contents; it can protect light-sensitive products or, in the premium segment, also serve as a design tool, e. g. to generate individual color gradients or other visual effects. Regarding design: It does not always have to be a bottle; cans and other vessels of, for example, PP for non-liquid foods and other products, can also be pro...

Kunststoffe international, 2017-12-21, Icons of the Modern Era
Nothing defines the current generation more than the smartphone. Premium, classy metal devices are the current trend. In order for the numerous integrated antennas to work notwithstanding the conductive housings, they must be electrically insulated against each other. Two newly developed polyphthalamides that join especially well with titanium and stainless steel alloys are suited for this purpose. Apple introduced the first iPhone in 2007 and created a new market segment. Smartphones have been...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-03-09, High-Quality Visible Parts in a Single Step
...ded control elements through combination with PU finishing and IML is generally more cost-efficient than separate production and assembly of the switching elements. Clearmelt technology is therefore by no means the preserve of the premium auto segment, but will also help to bring greater comfort and a more attractive design to high-volume vehicles.Further application areas outside the automotive industry include control panels for washing machines and other white goods as well as medical devices...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-07-17, Aligning a Range of Spectrophotometers
...y years.Digital Communication of StandardsAlthough the absolute precision of color measurement instruments has improved noticeably over the years, standards can be communicated only in part digitally because of the very tight tolerances demanded for premium products. The agreement between two instruments of the same model from the same manufacturer (Inter-Instrument Agreement, IIA, cf. Info box), which is communicated in the instrument manufacturer’s specifications, is generally based on a set o...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-07-17, The Master’s Batch
...rocessed. Examples of progress regarding quality and productivity include improved temperature control, better performance of the drive technology, and higher dispersion volumes. Kneading technology remains significant as well, especially for premium grades. Some masterbatches are even being produced using roll mills to this day. The pelletized form has become widely accepted (Fig. 3). Aside from typical strand pelletizing, manufacturers are also using underwater pelletizing or air-cooled sectio...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-09-19, Elegant Surfaces with Visible Natural Fibers
...ce. A newly developed finishing technology from Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI) makes natural fibers visible. with a new compression molding process attractive and individual surfaces with natural fiber are possible. The result is the new EcoCor Premium surface technology, which was developed at the Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI) technology center in Neuss, Germany, and which creates high quality natural fiber designs with structures ranging from twill to linen. With regard to selection...

Kunststoffe international, 2020-04-08, Protection and Attractive Design
...an even be critical in understanding how it should be used. Polycarbonate has a high gloss surface, which can help create a premium look. Furthermore polycarbonate allows for easy incorporation of additional surface features besides high gloss. Figure 2 shows examples of surfaces which are producible with polycarbonate. Structured surfaces can be useful to create intuitive design with tactile features for patients with impared vision, or to simply create an attractive appearance. With modern tec...