Covestro inaugurates the China Auto Lightweight Non-metal Materials Industrial Alliance Go back »

2018-11-02 | Shanghai

Plastics and other non-metallic materials hold great potential for the automotive industry. Not only do they help reduce weight and increase energy efficiency during the production and lifecycle of a car, but they also improve comfort. To further promote the use of non-metallic materials and solutions in cars, German materials manufacturer Covestro is pleased to be one of the founding members of the China Auto Lightweight Non-metal Materials Industrial Alliance, which was inaugurated today in the city of Xi’an.

The alliance consists of dozens of members, including material manufacturers, carmakers, auto parts producers and research institutions. Covestro is one of two foreign companies among the founding members. The alliance, endorsed by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, was jointly initiated by the China Synthetic Resin Supply and Sale Association (CSRA), which is under the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, and the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

“We hope members of this new alliance can collaboratively promote the use of innovative materials in car applications where metals traditionally dominate,” said CSRA Chairman Kai Zheng. “A large amount of non-metallic materials are already being used in the automotive industry across the U.S., Europe and Japan. This has been a global trend for vehicles, especially for electric cars. With the establishment of the Auto Lightweight Non-metal Materials Industrial Alliance, we hope China too can adopt this trend.”

High-performance materials for mobility concepts of the future

Covestro’s high-performance polymer products are already making cars lighter by substituting metal and other materials. They offer superior design freedom, can be produced more efficiently and increase comfort, e.g. with polyurethane-foam for seats or other offerings like soft-touch interior surfaces. In automotive glazing, lightweight polycarbonates can be used in panoramic roofs and other car windows, replacing glass. Moreover, the company’s products and solutions support new mobility concepts such as electric vehicles and autonomous driving with materials for battery casings or with materials that allow 5G signals.

“The automotive industry is undergoing tremendous changes. Covestro can provide the right material solutions for new mobility requirements,” said Terence Yau, Vice President of the Covestro Polycarbonates Business Unit in China. “We want to share our expertise in non-metallic solutions and through this new non-metallic alliance, we can better contribute to the development of the world’s largest car market.”

Covestro has been a close partner to the automotive industry for decades. With visionary concepts like the first all-plastic car in 1967, or it’s recent follow up at the K fair in 2016, the company has continuously been on the leading edge of innovations. Now, the automotive industry is within its next step of evolution and Covestro continues to provide the material and the know-how. The Auto Lightweight Non-metal Materials Industrial Alliance is going to be a key part of this development in China.

For more information, please visit the source website below.

Source: Covestro