PolyOne Corporation, a premier global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, announced that Denso Corporation, a leading supplier of automotive systems for all major global automakers, has selected GLS OnFlex thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) for use in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system in a new car model.Working in close cooperation with Denso, PolyOne helped improve the in-service performance of the Denso HVAC system while also reducing total system cost.
“Like PolyOne, Denso sets very high standards both internally and for its suppliers,” commented Holger Kronimus, vice president, Europe and general manager, Specialty Engineered Materials, Europe at PolyOne. “Both companies engage with customers globally, and are actively focused on continuous improvement. We worked closely with Denso to develop a specialized TPE solution to satisfy Denso ’s strict requirements.”
For this application, Denso originally used a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) and was seeking an alternative that would enhance the overall performance of the system. In response, PolyOne developed a TPE solution that reduced the total system cost by eliminating the need to pre-dry the material as well as providing more than a five percent improvement in processing efficiencies via shortened cycle times and scrap reductions. PolyOne was also able to meet Denso’s strict specifications and provide consistent global supply, which was critical to achieving success.
Director Masaki Shimizu, Head of Material Engineering Department, Denso Corp. Japan, noted his appreciation for the successful global cooperation between Denso and PolyOne. Christoph Wallner, Section Head, Material Engineering Department, Technical Planning & Research Denso Europe, explained, “The close development cooperation with PolyOne enabled Denso to significantly improve its HVAC systems. Further, switching to the new polymer solution from PolyOne helped Denso to improve its manufacturing efficiency. Transferring this technology to subsidiaries in other regions is already under consideration.”
“This is an excellent example of how our values of collaboration, innovation and excellence are driving meaningful increases in end use performance and profitability for global industry leaders such as Denso,” added Mr. Kronimus.
