CSP Victall to produce composites parts for China

US-headquartered Continental Structural Plastics (CSP)’s Chinese joint venture, CSP Victall, recently opened its manufacturing facility in Tangshan City, Hebei Province, China. The 322,000 sq-ft facility will manufacture composite components for the automotive, heavy truck and bus, construction and agriculture markets in China. The joint venture will also compound and sell advanced composite raw materials out of this facility.

“CSP Victall specialises in developing, formulating and compounding advanced, lightweight materials that help car makers reduce overall vehicle weight and emissions,” said Frank Macher, Chairman of the board of CSP Victall and Chairman/CEO of Continental Structural Plastics. “We see tremendous opportunity for lightweighting in China, especially given new Chinese regulatory policies and the push toward vehicle electrification.”

Today, 3.8 million tonnes of composites and plastics are used by Chinese vehicle OEMs, compared to 7.6 million tonnes used by North American OEMs.

Manufacturing equipment to be installed in the new CSP Victall facility includes a Dieffenbacher fully automated LFT-D line – the first in the world to be equipped to support the application of carbon fibre and higher temperature resins in addition to mainstream glass and polypropylene materials.

The scope of equipment being supplied by Dieffenbacher at CSP Victall includes a 4,300-tonne compression press and a trim press for LFT-D in-line compounding, a twin 3-inch extruder with an output of approximately 1,500 lbs./hour, convection ovens and complete automation. The line is capable of a 30-second cycle time, and with double belt-loading, has an output of approximately 1 million components per year. Additional equipment in the facility includes locally-sourced Tianjin Tianduan 3300-tonne presses, an advanced composite compounding line and robotic routers. The facility will also feature the latest in dust control technology, including a centralized vacuum system and dust booths.

In addition to its standard density advanced composite called Tough Class A (TCA), CSP Victall will provide Chinese automakers the opportunity to incorporate CSP’s proprietary TCA Ultra Lite technology on vehicles. The so-called space-age, ultra-lightweight composite material competes with aluminium for weight savings, but at a significant cost reduction. This material, currently in production on the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette, is 40% lighter than steel, is e-coat oven capable and offers an improved surface finish.

“For automakers in China and around the world, our Ultra Lite material offers distinct advantages over metals for body panel and structural applications,” Macher explained. “In addition to the weight and cost-savings that come with TCA Ultra Lite, car makers will benefit from its styling flexibility and its natural resistance to corrosion, denting and dinging.”

CSP Victall is a 50:50 joint venture between Continental Structural Plastics and Qingdao Victall Railway (Group) Co., Ltd., Chinese manufacturer of modular products and parts for high speed trains, intercity trains and other transportation equipment. The joint venture was formed in 2014.