Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
technique. The carrier material of grinding
wheels is an example of this, with the afore-
said material successfully replacing polypro-
pylene (PP) glass fibre injection moulding
material.
11.11.1 Compression Moulding
NF compression moulding is an established
and proven technique for the production of
extensive lightweight and high-class interior
parts in medium- and luxury-class cars. The
advantages (lightweight construction, crash
behaviour, deformation resistance, lamination
ability, depending on the overall concept and
also price) and disadvantages (limited shape
and design forming, scraps, cost disadvantages
in the case of high part integration in construc-
tion parts) are well known. Process optimiza-
tions are in progress, in order to reduce certain
problem areas such as scraps and to recycle
wastage. By means of new one-shot compres-
sion moulding presses, soft surfaces can also
be integrated directly, which so far has not
been possible with injection moulding.
As far as preferably inexpensive door con-
cepts with a high part integration are con-
cerned (up to the point of doing without
lamination), NF compression moulding does
not have a good chance against injection
moulding. But, as far as high-class door con-
cepts are concerned, NF compression mould-
ing remains the first-choice technique. Against
this background, it is not surprising that NF
compression moulding is stagnating right now
in the German automotive industry. The
decreases among small and medium suppliers
are fully offset currently by increases among
large tier-one suppliers. One issue is that there
are only a few compression moulding machine
manufacturers and mat producers. Compression
moulding is a specialized technique. Suppliers
would prefer to use their existing (injection
moulding) lines to capacity. Under heavy price
pressure, this could become a disadvantage for
NF compression moulding presses.
The future of NF compression moulding
depends on numerous factors (price pressure,
strategies and interior concepts of the OEMs
and suppliers, oil, plastics and glass fibre prices,
advancement of compression moulding, as
well as correction concepts and materials). We
assume that this technique will find a market in
the future. This is also indicated by the fact
that, currently, more NF compression mould-
ing lines have been installed worldwide than
ever before - not in Europe, but in China, India
and Iran. There, in view of the current world
11.11
Future Developments
Regarding the future market development of
NF reinforced composites, there currently is
no clear trend noticeable. Estimates within the
automotive branch vary greatly. There is belief
on the one hand that natural fibres have
already passed their peak and their applica-
tions will decrease and, on the other hand,
that there is stability with a (slight) market
growth and interesting potential in the medium
term. 'No clear direction for NF materials: suc-
cesses in the past, weakening at the moment,
and an interesting future' - this is how an
insider summarized the situation in the sum-
mer of 2006.
Also, the material choice of original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and tier-
one suppliers is hard to assess, depending
on the series of models and that decisions
regarding the pros and cons of NF rein-
forced composites are made at the same
time. At the moment, NF compression
moulding is in a phase of stagnation, while
NF press flow moulding and PP-NF injec-
tion moulding are increasing, however, but
at a very low level.
It is clearly noticeable that the setting for
new materials has changed substantially in
recent years. Under heavily increased cost
pressure, for which quality is also partly sacri-
ficed, new materials have, since 2004, had
considerably more difficulties. Suppliers want
to use existing processing lines to capacity and
not invest in new machines. New materials
must be better
and
cheaper, which can hardly
be achieved.
From an economic point of view, NF and
wood materials exhibit decent price stability,
being less dependent on oil prices than other
materials, particularly if large NF and wood
shares, respectively, can be realized. Should
CO
2
emissions be financially punished more
severely in the future, further economic bene-
fits would come about.
