New Moulded Skin Used for the First Time in Series Production of Instrument Panels
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BURSCHEID, Germany, September 20/- High-Quality Surface Through Innovative Technology
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive interior systems, electronics and batteries, is now employing a new RIM technology to manufacture the instrument panel of a medium-segment vehicle. This new process enables production of a high-quality and cost-effective moulded skin that allows even very complex designs to be applied over large surfaces.
Surface design of instrument panels plays an important role in ensuring pleasant haptics and at the same time achieving a high-quality visual impression in the vehicle interior. There are many different processes testifying to the wide variety of solutions that have been developed so far.
This new technology enables Johnson Controls to manufacture all process steps in-house for the first time. In contrast to the conventional RIM (Reaction Injection Moulding) technique, which involves the use of two material components, this new process requires only one material, aliphatic polyurethane. RIM alpha, as the technology is called, has numerous benefits.
Benefits due to shorter process times and variety of combinations
Since only one polyurethane is used, process times can be significantly reduced. In addition, the new process provides a high-quality, soft touch surface. One of the other benefits of this technology is that the skin can be combined with any substrate material. A high-quality surface can therefore be applied to plastics, glass fibre reinforced materials, and thermoplastically or duroplastically bound natural fibre materials. Since the process takes place in closed moulds, surface thickness can also be controlled, which is a benefit in the production of hidden airbag doors.
High future market potential expected
The current instrument panel is a single-colour solution. A two-colour version is now in concept development and will be ready for series production from around 2007. Before that, Johnson Controls also expects possible initial use in series production in Europe. Krister Gamaggio, Director Product and Business Development Interiors at Johnson Controls said: "Moulded skins are also increasingly gaining ground in the lower vehicle segments, too because of the benefits they bring to the industry. We see high market potential for our new RIM alpha technology, particularly in the lower medium and upper medium segments."
Johnson Controls, Inc., is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services including comfort, energy and security management.
Johnson Controls (New York Stock Exchange: JCI), founded in 1885, has its headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The company's sales for 2004 totalled US$25.4 billion, the Automotive Group worldwide generating US$20 billion of this figure. The European headquarters is in Burscheid, Germany. The company's product portfolio also includes instrument panels/cockpits, door systems, overhead systems, interior electronics and electrical energy management.
Johnson Controls GmbH: Automotive Group, Astrid Schafmeister, Tel.: +49-2174-65-3189, Fax: +49-2174-65-3219, E-mail: astrid.schafmeister@jci.com. Ina Longwitz, Tel.: +49-2174-65-4343, Fax: +49-2174-65-3219, E-mail: ina.longwitz@jci.com
