Injection Moulding Asia

PCs open the window to lighter cars
As the automotive industry looks for ways to produce greener vehicles, with improved fuel efficiency and reduced weight, Teijin Chemicals is developing PC resins and is able to produce 2.2 sq m roof systems in what it says is the world’s largest two-component rotary injection press.

The Japanese company says its Panlite resin is half the weight of glass and over 200 times more resistant to impact. Besides offering transparency, heat/weather resistance, moisture retention and workability, it causes no optical distortion, making it suitable for windows.

Teijin Chemicals also boasts one of the world’s largest two-component rotary injection moulding machine, which is equipped with four-axis parallelism control to maintain the mould’s parallel balance in a process known as plastic glazing. This control is said to reduce strain and warpage, which tend to increase as moulded parts become larger. The machine presses parts as fast as 35 mm per second and moulds uniformly thin parts without compromising resin fluidity, according to Teijin.

As a result, Teijin says it is now is capable of producing 2.2 sq m single-piece moulds for two-component panoramic roof systems and body panels.

Late last year, Teijin established a new business unit that consolidates all the functions related to the development and marketing of PC resins for automotive applications. That same month, glazed Panlite was used for the first time in the quarter and partition windows of the LFA, Lexus’ two-seat super car. The result has been a 40% weight reduction compared to glass, with no loss of visual clarity or external appearance.

Looking ahead, Teijin Chemicals now intends to further refine its integrated moulding technology for windows, frames and bodies, hoping to open up new markets for these advanced automotive products in Asia and Europe.