American chemical company BASF is planning to expand the research and development (R&D) of thermoplastic and thermoset composites for light weight vehicles with a two-digit million euro investment.
As a part of this investment, the company has invited carmakers to assess lightweight solutions with BASF and to develop first production components on its material platform. For this, the company is offering its Ultracom approach solution.
Ultracom approach includes continuous fibre reinforced semi-finished products; adapted overmolding compounds; and complementing engineering, processing and testing support - plus computer-aided engineering technologies.
BASF global research for structural materials senior vice president Martin Jung said that to develop and introduce highly automated and robust process technologies across the industry, the company should work collaboratively.
"Currently, automakers can reduce vehicle weight by up to 220 pounds by using short fiber reinforced plastics in seats, oil pans, cross beams, air intake manifolds, engine mounts and structural inserts," Jung added.
"In the next several years, advancements in design and process efficiency will enable an entirely new way of designing whole modules and assemblies from continuous fiber-reinforced composites."
Besides this, the company has won the inaugural Altair Enlighten Award from Altair for the development of its thermoplastic composite front seat pan at the 2013 CAR Management Briefing Seminars (MBS) in Traverse City, Michigan.
This award is given in collaboration with the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) to acknowledge innovations in vehicle light-weighting.
