Window Close-Out Panel

This injection-molded window-filler panel for commercial vans replaced compression-molded SMC and stamped steel with a mineral-reinforced PC/ABS, which reduces mass 33%. With both steel and SMC lots of finishing is required and scrap rates can be as high as 40%, but much of this was eliminated with the thermoplastic, which is painted on both sides like its predecessors. A proprietary mineral filler improved stiffness, strength, and CLTE improvements vs. unfilled PC/ABS.  The switch also lowered costs approximately $30 USD/panel or $60 USD/vehicle, leading to program savings of $2.4MM USD.  And vs. SMC, the thermoplastic panel is fully recyclable.

OEM/Vehicle Ford Motor Co. 2014 Transit Connect compact panel van System Supplier ValTec LLC Material Processor ValTec LLC

Material Supplier SABIC Resin Cycoloy XCM840 PC/ABS Tooling/Equipment Supplier Dixon Tool & Manufacturing, Inc.

 For More Information See: http://www.plastics-car.com/Todays-Automobiles/Auto-Body-Exterior