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In this Edition March 2012 |
FEATURED VIDEOS |
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LEAD FEATURE |
COMPANY NEWS |
MATERIALS NEWS |
MACHINERY NEWS |
INJECTION MOULDING ASIA |
RUBBER JOURNAL ASIA |
 ELECTRONIC ISSUE |
PRA April 2012 Electronic Issue Now Available |
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Injection Moulding Asia
Foam moulding for lighter aircraft and cars
M
uCell microcellular foam moulding is expanding its use into aircraft cabin interiors, while its use in Volkswagen's latest Golf car has reduced the weight by 500 g with a reportedly 20% lower moulding cycle time.US firms Vaupell and MuCell licensee Trexel are partnering to develop and advance weight reduction in aircraft cabin interiors. Supplier to Tier-1 aerospace manufacturers, Vaupell has been in business since 1947 and operates six plants in the US and a joint venture in China.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen engineers have succeeded in reducing the weight of the new VW Gold 7 by 500 g, compared to the older model. Using MuCell to produce the car's instrument panel structure, the engineers were able to save on material and use lower processing temperatures, with the result of a reduced cycle time. The firm also says the finished part has less inert stress, and improved dimensional stability.
The VW Golf 7 is the second vehicle with the instrument panel made from MuCell and joins the Ford Escape/Kuga IP, which recently went into production.
MuCell is a complete process and equipment technology that enables the production of plastic parts with enhanced dimensional stability, lower weight/material and reduced cycle time.