For almost two decades, an expert committee, meeting once a year, has supported Kunststoffe magazine in determining the state of play in the plastics industry and identifying current technical developments. This time, the traditional spring meeting gave it an opportunity to debate the consequences of the Corona virus.

Taking new paths: during the Corona crisis, certain technical obstacles were also overcome by the Kunststoffe publisher advisory committee, who held a round table discussion by video conference for the first time. Present by video link were, among others, (top, from left) Dr. Guiscard Glück, Prof. Christian Hopmann (bottom, from left) Martin Würtele and Dr. Achim Eggert

16:9

Current Challenges and Options for Action in the Plastics Industry

Wirtschaftspolitik in Deutschland

Wirtschaft

Verpackungsmaterial

Logistik

Klotz, Karlhorst, Dr.

Internationale Wirtschaft

Verpackungsanlagen

Coilhandling

Recycling

Umweltmanagement

Kunststoff-Verpackungsmaschine

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Maschinen und Komponenten

Sondermaschinen

Kunststoff-Recycling

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Verfahren

Kunststoff-Aufbereitung

Medizintechnik

Starting up under the Shadow  of Corona

Electric vehicles can be charged not only at charging stations, but also wirelessly. Here, the energy exchange takes place between an induction coil positioned in the ground and a receiver coil mounted in the e-car.

Wireless charging could increase the range, and therefore the acceptance of electromobility.

Flame Retardant Polyamide for Inductive Charging Systems

Elektromobilität

Mobilität

Polyamide

Kunststoff Werkstoffe

Thermoplaste

Technische Kunststoffe

No Cable thanks to Suitable Compounds

The program for the official special show at K 2022 has been finalized.

Plastics shape the future aims at a dialog between experts, politicians and the professional audience.

Messe K-Kunststoffmesse

kunststoffe-international.com

kunststoffe.de

Plastics Shape the Future – But How?

At K, Radici will present the Renycle product family. These engineering compounds have a variable proportion of mechanically recycled PA obtained from PIR and PCR.

Reducing weight and ensuring safety are the aims of compounds developed by Radici specifically for electromobility.

Compound

More Comprehensive  Life Cycle Analysis

At Akro-Plastik and PolyComp, which both belong to the Feddersen Group, Hamburg/Germany, new managing directors are at the start.

Feddersen announced changes in the management of Akro-Plastic and PolyComp.

Personen

Change in the Management Board of Feddersen Group

Compounder Mocom will focus chiefly on technical compounds for WiFi and radar applications as well as on fuel cell and battery technology.

Applications for the light-transmitting PC compounds with metallic effect include illuminated trim.

Compoundeure

Dienstleistungen

Handel

Compound Innovations for Trade Show Debut

Versalis has redesigned its logo to emphasize its affiliation with parent company Eni. The common goal is to become the industry leader for carbon-free products.

Versalis to Underscore Sustainability Strategy

A trade show highlight of masterbatch manufacturer Lifocolor will be its biodegradable plant-based color concentrates. These are claimed to enable a closed-loop system for biodegradable plastics.

When it comes to long-term closed-loop recycling, it is not only the plastics that matter, but also the colorants employed. Lifocolor has developed masterbatches specifically for coloring recycled materials.

Masterbatches

Additive

Farbstoffe und Pigmente

Farbkonzentrate (Batches)

Biokunststoffe

Farbstoffe

Biodegradable Plant-Based Colors

All over the world, many polyurethane manufacturers are aligning production and assortment as well as upstream and downstream processes to the circular economy.

In wind turbines, polyurethane offers three major advantages over materials such as epoxy resins and improves two key criteria of the turbines. 

Polyurethane (PUR): Worldwide Demand for the Polymer Is Growing

Polyurethan-Schaumstoffe (PUR)

Halbzeuge und Zwischenprodukte

Kunststoff-Halbzeuge

Polyurethan

Sustainability at Every Turn

Due to the climate change, new fields of development and sustainability topics have come into focus along the added-value chain.

Polyamide continues to be one of the most important technical plastics in the automotive sector, where it enjoys widespread use. This not only applies for classical internal combustion vehicles, but in terms of volume will also be the case for electric vehicles.

Polyamides: Electromobility and Sustainability Boost Developments

Dual Change with Polyamides

ABS is a material for esthetically and mechanically demanding applications in the automotive industry, electronic housings, household appliances, and medical technology.

ABS is particularly in demand for electrical and household appliances.

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene: Recycling Successes and Challenges

ABS / ASA-Kunststoffe

Kunststoff-Rezyklat

Right Combination of Mechanical  and Esthetic Properties

Consumption and manufacturing capacities are growing most in North America and China. In Europe, companies are working on specific paths.

PE films with monoaxial and biaxial orientation help to replace multi-material compounds for packaging.

Polyethylene (PE): Shaping New Trends in Power Generation and Packaging

Polyethylen

Rohre, Profile

Metall Werkstoffe

Kunststoff-Rohre

Rohre, allgemein

Resilient through Changing Markets

The global market for PBT has recovered well from the aftermath of the corona pandemic. However, there is a lot going on among manufacturers at the moment.

PBT compounds are very much in demand for electromobility, including for parts of the battery, electric transmission and the charging infrastructure.

Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT): Demand for Products with Added Benefits

Polybutylenterephthalat

Electromobility and Sustainability Are Driving Growth

The strong demand for PMMA is based on the continually expanding diversity of applications.

Design trend light: in the TIR lens LFO by Bartenbach and kdg Opticomp made of a Plexiglas PMMA of Röhm, the surface of the lenses is structured using free-form surface facets in such a way that the light appears homogeneous.

Trotz Rohstoffengpässen und Turbulenzen in wichtigen Branchen stehen die  Zeichen für PMMA auf Wachstum

Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA): Turbulence in Key Industries

Polymethylmethacrylat

Kennzahlen

Qualitätsmanagement

Despite Raw Material Shortages, the Signs for PMMA Point to Growth

Because their properties can be varied to suit specific applications, they are used in many different areas.

The styrene copolymer Luran S 778T SPF30 can be used to produce high-quality surfaces with long-term durability. The polymer is used, for example, in the MG Linghang vehicle from Saic.

Styrene Copolymers: High-Quality, Durable, Protective Surfaces

Polystyrol

Styrol-Copolymerisate

Variability Enables Use in Many Areas

Third “Automotive Interior Survey” Conducted

Easy-to-maintain and sustainable materials add value to customers.

In November 2021 Asahi Kasei, a diversified Japanese multinational company, conducted its third „Automotive Interior Survey“ together with Cologne, Germany-based market research institute Skoos in the four major automotive markets: the USA, Germany, China and Japan. 1,000 car users of varying income levels in each market responded to questions regarding their car purchasing behavior, understanding of automotive sustainability and preferences for the automotive interior. This survey supports the importance of Asahi Kasei’s Healthy Car Portfolio to help OEMs satisfy the needs of the end user.

Whether new or used, survey respondents prefer to continue to pursue ownership in the future. Car sharing or not having a car were not attractive options. 84% of car users in China prefer to buy, finance or lease a new car, and they are willing to spend an average of 31% more on their next car. With a 7% increase compared to the costs of their current car, the overall willingness of German car users to spend more money on their next car is significantly lower compared to the USA (+19%) and Japan (+10%). In addition, over half of car users prefer to purchase a new car over a used car.

Brand Loyalty is Still a Concern for OEMs

In addition, the results regarding brand loyalty confirm the findings of our surveys from 2019 and 2020, that consumers are willing to change brands quite easily. When it comes to purchasing a new car, on average only half of the car users in Germany would choose the same brand as the current car. However, while car users in the USA and Japan saw a similar trend to Germany, there was a stark contrast in China. In the world’s biggest automotive market 72% of car owners will consider a different car brand for their next purchase. These figures convey that a significant share of car users are not loyal to a single brand and must be convinced when shopping for their next car.

Cleanliness Continues to Play a Major Role in the Interior

While fuel/power consumption, drivetrain technology, running costs and driving performance remain as dominating decision factors, the interior design has been gaining importance in recent years. One of every two car users in the four main markets will take interior design into account for their next car purchase. With growing electrification and automation, it is expected that the interior will become the main differentiating factor in upcoming years, and its importance in the car purchasing process will further increase. A key finding of the first survey from 2019 showed that car users worldwide highly value the cleanliness inside their car. Also in 2021 64% of car users in Germany put a great emphasis on the cleanliness of their car, trumping intuitive operation (38%) and personalization (46%). A similar trend was seen in China (78%), Japan (72%) and USA (62%).

Car Users See High Benefit in Easy-to-maintain Surfaces

Whether it is a dirty floor, stains and scratches on the interior surfaces, or smell, the general understanding of cleanliness differs among the regions. While car users in China are clearly annoyed by “unpleasant odors” (48%) and the so-called “new car smell” (23%), the share of car users annoyed by these factors is significantly lower in the other regions. In contrast, “scratches on visible surfaces” are bothering one of every four car users in Germany (25%). This share has further increased compared to 2020 (21%). The same can be observed in the USA, with 29% of the car users being annoyed by scratches (2020: 19%). “Stains on fabrics” are also an annoyance factor for 30% of car users in Germany (2020: 26%) and 32% in the USA (2020: 26%). A major share in all regions sees a benefit in “water and dirt repellent surfaces,” with 74% in China, 70% in the USA, 65% in Japan and 63% in Germany. “Surface and seating materials that are easy to wash” was also in high regard, especially in the USA (81%) and in China (80%). Heiko Rother, General Manager Business Development Automotive at Asahi Kasei Europe, comments, “Cleanliness was highly valued by car users even before the pandemic. The last two years have further fueled this desire, and the definition of ‘cleanliness’ has broadened.” Mike Franchy, Director of North American Mobility at Asahi Kasei America, continues, “With the cost of vehicles increasing consumers have their vehicles longer and want surfaces that are highly durable, easy to clean and continue to look new over time. In addition, our Healthy Car portfolio of anti-microbial textiles and plastics, along with technology to ensure interior air quality, we have solutions for the OEMs to address these needs of the market.”

The findings of the survey show “Sustainability” is no longer only defined by the drivetrain technology, but also by the choice of materials. For example, roughly half of the car users in Germany, China and the USA characterize a sustainable car based on “materials made from highly recyclables”. In contrast, car users in Japan prioritized hybrid drivetrains to recyclables when characterizing sustainable automobiles. This growing awareness towards sustainability in automobiles is also reflected in the car user’s willingness to spend more money on a sustainable vehicle. In China, two out of three car users would pay more, in the USA and Japan every third, and in Germany every fourth. Heiko Rother concludes, “The definition and the perception of sustainability in automobiles is changing. Car users are looking more into the materials being used – electrification alone is not enough anymore. More sustainable interior surface materials that are also good-looking, durable, easy-to-maintain and clean will get more attention from car users. In the end, a ‘long-lasting’ material quality is being recognized as more sustainable.” Mike Franchy adds, “With our extensive product line of engineered plastics from Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, textiles from Sage Automotive Interiors and UVC technology from Crystal IS for interior air purification, we can collaborate with OEMs as a trusted partner to develop the interior functions and features the consumers demand.”

Asahi Kasei Corporation  

https://www.asaha-kasei.co.jp

Third “Automotive Interior Survey” shows: Easy-to-maintain and sustainable materials add value to customers.

2022-04-19 Asahi Kasei Studie

This survey is the global continuation of the “Asahi Kasei Europe Automotive Interior Survey” from 2019. To learn more about the past surveys please visit https://automotive.asahi-kasei.eu/stories-interior-story-2019/ https://automotive.asahi-kasei.eu/interior-story.

issue 07/2023

issue 06/2023

issue 05/2023

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