The Plastic Percentage Within Automobiles Increases
(Automobilwoche, 23rd edition, 5th November 2007)
Content:
The author describes that it is to be acted on the assumption that within the next 5-10 years, an increase of the plastic percentage within automobiles is to be reckoned with. This is mentioned especially by taking the background of newly developed polyamides into account, which possess stable characteristics with temperatures beyond 200° C. Thus, new compartments open up within the motor to plastic, which nowadays are not available to the manufacturer. A bigger liberty in design vis-á-vis aluminium and a weight reduction of 50 % vis-á-vis steel are expected from the development, as far as considerable cost benefits arise from a series volume of up to 100.000 vehicles per year. Meaning, that in case of market stagnancy in the automobile sector or a diminution in case of overcapacity at aluminium casting producers – which at the same time persists globally -, it is to be reckoned with further concentrations, as a result of the slumps in production quantities which are linked to this development.
The specialists of KW-International will optimally work out answers to the questions: could your company be affected by these facts and how – should the case may be – can you optimally be positioned for this.
