| |
BMW SELECTS NORYL GTX RESIN FOR 6 SERIES
25 May 2004 - GE Advanced Materials
| Fenders for the recently launched BMW 6 Series are the latest application success in a series of painted body panels moulded from Noryl GTX resin, a modified high-performance PPO/PA alloy, selected by BMW for its broad chemical resistance, stiffness, impact strength, and superior high-heat performance. |
Fenders for the recently launched BMW 6 Series are the latest application success in a series of painted body panels moulded from Noryl GTX resin, a modified high-performance PPO/PA alloy, selected by BMW for its broad chemical resistance, stiffness, impact strength, and superior high-heat performance. According to Hans Schwager, director - plastics development and processing, product concepts and architecture, vehicle integration, BMW Group: “We selected Noryl GTX resin for the fenders on the BMW 6 Series because it provided our designers with unprecedented design freedom and gave us the weight saving we had targeted. The material also met our demanding requirements for paint-line oven temperatures.” Weight saving is a key requirement for BMW, which sees lightweight technology as one of the most important elements of future car development and design. Currently, plastics account for approximately 13 percent of the weight of a BMW car, and the company anticipates that this number will rise to around 18 percent during the next five years. Weight reduction, increased design space and styling flexibility have been established automotive industry requirements for decades. Today, many automakers consider these requirements to be a necessity as the number of new model vehicles increases, along with competitive pressures and legislative mandates. As automakers increasingly look to their suppliers to help meet these needs, these suppliers are under increasing pressure to deliver newer and better product technologies. GE Advanced Materials is leading the way in technology and innovation with solutions such as Noryl GTX resin. Today, painted body panels molded from GE Advanced Materials’ engineered resins can be found on 19 vehicle platforms produced by nine automotive manufacturers worldwide. With more engineering thermoplastic body panels on the road than any other resin supplier, GE Advanced Materials understands that customers want product options that can be used in major automotive painting processes. Painted Body Panels
GE Advanced Materials offers resins to accommodate on-line, in-line, and off-line paint methods. On-line and in-line painted body panels can use either non-conductive Noryl GTX resins, or conductive Noryl GTX resin grades that eliminate the need for primers. Xenoy resin can be specified for off-line painted panels, or for moulded-in colour panels, which don’t require painting. “No Paint” Panels
Lexan SLX film is a new product that offers advanced ‘paint-free’ options for body panels. It delivers a Class A surface finish with deep gloss consumer appeal, is scratch and chemical resistant, and has the ability to withstand prolonged exposure to UV rays without fading. For auto manufacturers, Lexan SLX film can eliminate new paint line investment and paint line emissions and - by replacing metal panels – can reduce vehicle weight by up to 50 percent. A polycarbonate-based film, Lexan SLX film can be processed using large in-mould decoration techniques, is well suited to a wide range of exterior body panel applications and matches well with a variety of substrates. Weight Out
Fenders, or other body panels, made of Noryl GTX, Xenoy, or Lexan SLX resins can reduce weight by up to 40 percent compared with steel. Moreover, they offer chemical and impact resistance and can withstand dents and dings from low-impact collisions. Automotive designers increasingly prefer GE Advanced Materials’ resins because they can enhance both styling freedom and performance and can be moulded into complex shapes that are difficult to achieve in metal.
http://www.ge.com
About: GE Advanced Materials
GE Advanced Materials is a world leader in providing materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics, silicone-based products and technology platforms, and fused quartz and ceramics. Among its businesses are:• Silicones, which includes GE Toshiba Silicones in the Pacific region and GE Bayer Silicones in Europe, offers silanes, specialty silicones, urethane additives, adhesives, sealants, resins, and elastomers for a variety of industries such as personal care, automotive, tire and rubber, construction, healthcare, electronics, household and institutional, agriculture, textiles, appliances, bedding and furnishings, foam control, and consumer (http://www.gesilicones.com/gesilicones/am1/en/home.jsp); • Plastics is a global plastics materials supplier and distributor, which serves customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, appliances, automotive, building and construction, data storage and optical media, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications, computers and peripheral devices, outdoor vehicles and devices, and packaging (http://www.geplastics.com/); • Quartz produces high purity materials for the semiconductor, fiber optic, lamp making and water purification industries. GE Quartz is a leading supplier of quartz materials to the semiconductor industry (http://www.gequartz.com/en/index.htm); Established in 1968, GE Advanced Materials’ Specialty Film & Sheet business is a leading supplier of high-performance engineering film and sheet products to the United States, Europe, Africa, India, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and operates a worldwide network of sales, research, manufacturing and technical services facilities. Today, GE Advanced Materials, Specialty Film & Sheet employs about 600 people, and manufactures engineering sheet and film products at 12 facilities in 9 countries worldwide. Recent investments:
• 2003 New Roofing Structures Line in Italy, Europe
• 2003 New Coating Lines in China & Malaysia, Pacific
• 2002 Acquisition of Plastech, China
• 2001 New Film Lines in USA and Europe
• 2001 Acquisition of Carboron, Malaysia
• 2000 Acquisition of Matraplast, Canada
• 2000 Acquisition of Nim Plastics, USA Products:
GE Advanced Materials offers a variety of film materials are to meet different type of applications such as graphic film, coated products, electrical & electronic products, and specialties. The key film materials available today include:
• Lexan* Polycarbonate film
• Ultem* film
• Lexan* SLX film
• Valox* film
• Lexan* Illuminex* film GE Advanced Materials’ sheet product line includes a wide range of structures from solid sheet, multi-wall sheet and corrugated sheet through to coated sheet and laminates and combinations of each of these. The key sheet materials available today include:
• Lexan* Polycarbonate sheet
• Lexan* Solar Control IR sheet
• Margard* coated sheet
• Lexgard* laminated sheet
• Ultem* sheet
• Lexan EXL* sheet GE Advanced Materials, Specialty Film & Sheet, serves customers in a variety of industries including aircraft, appliances, automotive, building and construction, business machines, electrical & lighting, furnishing, greenhouse, industrial roofing, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications and packaging. In January 2004, in line with GE Corporate’ new brand architecture, GE Advanced Materials has announced the change of GE Structured Products business naming to GE Advanced Materials, Specialty Film & Sheet. |
More News:
• For May 2004
• From GE Advanced Materials
• For Engineering Plastics
|
