Injection Moulding Asia Automotive
A “cleaner” drive with plastics Innovative plastics are being developed for the
Adapting to these rules, the automotive industry continues to seek ways to comply with fuel economy targets; and producing lightweight vehicles and components is one of those ways. It is estimated that every 10% reduction in the weight of a vehicle results in as much as 7% fuel savings. For this reason, use of plastics to replace metals and other heavier materials is the direction the industry is taking. An IHS Chemical report estimates that plastics will represent 25% of the average car by 2025. Apart from light weight advantage, plastics also provide the extra edge of design flexibility, functionality, and lower cost of manufacturing, to cite a few benefits.
automotive sector, in pursuit of fuel economy cars, details Angelica Buan in this report.
Vehicle sales up; keeping carbon emissions in check There is quite no stopping the rise in vehicle sales. This year, IHS Markit forecasts that global sales of light vehicles could be worth US$96 million, coaxed by the growing urbanisation and incremental disposable income, and lamentably, increasing buildup of carbon emission in the environment. A 2015 IEA (International Energy Agency) report cited that road vehicles contributed the most to the 25% global transportation accountability to combustion emissions.
Comfort takes the front seat Light weighting provides leeway to car makers to enhance functionalities of vehicles produced. It also helps them meet the emerging demand for comfort and luxury, which according to a report by P&S Market Research are driving the growth of the global automotive seat market. Adient, an Ireland-based automotive seating specialist, says, over the past few years, it has reduced the weight of its vehicle seats by 20-30%. It is working on reducing the seat structures by almost 10 kg by 2020, with the use of glass or carbon fibrereinforced plastics, magnesium, high-strength steel or aluminium in the seat. “Car seats will increasingly become multifunction supports with a wide range of electronic adjustments and technical equipment,” said Dr Detlef Juerss, Vice-President Engineering and CTO at Adient.
The automotive industry continues to seek ways to comply with fuel economy targets by producing lightweight vehicles and components
Keeping carbon emissions in check is a serious global undertaking. Since the 1990s, the European Union (EU) has enforced its emissions standards in phases, with reduction targets. By 2021, EU cars and vans are prohibited to go beyond the 95 g/km of CO² emission cap (or 40% from 2007 average of 158.7 g/ km); and in the years thereafter to 2030, are expected to cut their carbon emissions by 30%. The EU standards have become the tailpipe benchmark for many countries including those in Asia. The US, where carbon emissions from vehicles have been found to overtake the amounts generated by power plants, mills and refineries; has targeted a limit of 163 g/mile of CO² by 2025. China, which is the world’s largest vehicle market, is also trimming its vehicle emissions. It’s China VI emissions standards, which are based on the US and EU tailpipe regulations, require light vehicles to comply by 2020.
Adient’s Recaro Automotive Seating has unveiled a lighter seat for the Sportster GT luxury automobile
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