Polyolefin-based innovations embraces more sustainable manufacturingBorealis and Borouge offer polyolefin-based (PO-based) innovations that embrace more sustainable manufacturing for Tier One suppliers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
This is achieved through high-performance and greater cost-efficiency while still meeting requirements for high quality aesthetics in vehicle interiors and exteriors and by offering vehicle weight savings when used to replace traditional part materials. The companies provide the same material-quality produced with the same production technology to customers around the world including growing regions in South America such as Argentina and Brazil, the partner countries in focus at this year’s fair.
Application examples will highlight Borealis and Borouge’s close long-term partnership with the Volkswagen Group. Borealis and Borouge offer high-quality long and short glass fibres compounds and feature an extensive portfolio backed by expertise and know-how, such as the:Volkswagen (VW) Golf A7 instrument panel carrier - Borealis’ short glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (PP) GE277AI enables weight reduction in combination with cost-efficiency. The material design supports reduced wall-thickness in combination with foaming technology for high level mechanical performance and a lighter weight component.
Glass-reinforced PP Air Intake Manifold (AIM) – PP has become the standard-material for non-charged engines in the VW group formerly made from polyamide. Borealis and Borouge are pioneers for the material paradigm shift with Xmod GB306SAF, a high performance 36% glass fibre reinforced compound. Xmod GB306SAF received the Frost & Sullivan 2010 Global New Product Innovation Award in the “Automotive under the Hood Plastics” category.
These product highlights will be exhibited alongside further state of the art solutions in interior, exterior and under-the-bonnet applications for recent models of the VW Group including VW Up! door claddings, the Skoda Superb bumper and Audi A3 under-body shielding. New grades from Borealis’ Xmod and Nepol™ portfolio of short-glass fibre and long-glass fibre reinforced PP have a much lower density than polyamide (PA), allowing for considerable weight reductions of up to 15% per application. Additionally, overall production costs were reduced through approximately 20% lower energy consumption, more flexible production parameters and the elimination of manufacturing steps.
“IZB is the leading European trade fair for the automotive supplier industry. As a long-term partner to the VW Group, its location in Wolfsburg is significant for us,” says Kai Fehling, Borealis Business Unit Mobility Sales Manager. “Borealis and Borouge have a strong track record for delivering step-change lightweight solutions; IZB puts us at the heart of discussions on how the latest trends and innovations impact the industry.”
The co-operation strategy with VW is part of Borealis and Borouge’s on-going steps towards offering true global support to its customers. Borealis and Borouge will demonstrate how a worldwide product nomenclature and global network of production and support facilities in emerging automotive markets such as Brazil are contributing to constant and consistent material supply and technical service to different parts of the world. Borealis has been operating PP compound production sites in Brazil for more than five years in Itatiba and Triunfo. Both locations are in close proximity to the major automotive sector bases of São Paulo and Porto Alegre.
“Borealis and Borouge are committed to a global presence in the automotive industry and we are constantly exploring opportunities to strengthen our on-the-ground support as well as global supply options,” comments Harald Hammer, Borealis Business Unit Mobility Vice President. “We want to be best placed to create the added-value our customers in this sector need. Running operations in countries such as Brazil, where automotive demand is on the rise, gives a solid base to improve our competitiveness and position as a leading and trusted supplier to automotive Tier Ones and OEMs, he continues.”
