Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Michael Karus
Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), c/o nova-Institut GmbH, Hürth, Germany
11.1
Introduction - Methodology
and Data Correction
also the composite amount, the NF share for
thermoset and thermoplastic techniques could
now be calculated precisely - and it was clearly
beyond 40% (see below). In addition, for the
first time also edge trim was taken into consid-
eration, with a presumed average loss of about
20% in the course of the moulding process.
On the whole, given consistent data for
the use of NF, this resulted in newly calculated
data for the respective composites. This cor-
rection was done retroactively for 1999 until
2005, in order to obtain a new, coherent
database.
Since 1996, the nova-Institut, Hürth, Germany,
has been surveying data on the use of natural
fibres (NF) in German automotive production.
In a comprehensive investigation by means of
e-mail questionnaires and telephone interviews,
data for 2004 and 2005 were surveyed in the
summer half-year of 2006. As in previous
years, the data of suppliers active in Germany
were focused on and could be surveyed almost
entirely. Additional exemplary interviews of
employees of automotive companies, NF mat
producers, machine manufacturers and raw
material suppliers served the purpose of ensur-
ing further data.
Almost all data proved to be consistent
with the surveys of previous years. However,
the data on the amounts of NF composites had
to be revised considerably: the 45,000 t for
2003, as published so far, proved, in retro-
spect, to be wrong; it was not before 2005 that
30,000 t could actually be achieved - and this
at a continuously increasing use.
The reason for the miscalculation back
then was the conversion of the NF amount into
the composite amount. Up until then - in coor-
dination with branch representatives - an aver-
age NF share of 40% had been presumed. But,
because for this year's survey for the first time
not only could the NF amount be surveyed but
11.2
Results and Their Interpretation
Figure 11.1 shows that the use of NF in German
automotive production has increased even fur-
ther in 2004 and 2005 - even with slower
growth rates of less than 3%. This growth is
based primarily on the rising use of the press
flow moulding and injection moulding tech-
niques (both new to natural fibres), while estab-
lished compression moulding is stagnating.
11.3
Natural Fibres in Motor Cars
In 2005, for the first time, 19,000 t of NF (not
including wood and cotton) were used in
