Highly Integrated Spare-Wheel Well

This highly integrated, gas-assist, injection-molded spare-wheel well replaced steel and SMC with 60%-glass-reinforced PA 6 and an insert-molded aluminum inlay and screw inserts. Despite the high glass loading levels, the resin offers excellent flow and yields a part with very-good surface quality, while injection molding brought significant parts-integration opportunities. The final part is bonded into the body-in-white and therefore contributes to chassis stiffness, reducing weight 30% (vs. steel) and capital equipment investment by 70%.  It is particularly well-suited for small-to-midsize production runs owing to this tooling savings.

OEM/Vehicle Audi AG 2010 Audi A8 System Supplier Voestalpine Polynorm Group Material Processor Voestalpine Polynorm Group

Material Supplier Lanxess Resin Durethan BKV 60 PA6 GF 60% Tooling/Equipment Supplier Grupo Simoldes

For More Information See: http://www.plastics-car.com/Todays-Automobiles/Automotive-Chassis-Design-NVH-Performance/Structure.html