Overview
In a context of globalization, the key players of the automotive industry have reorganized themselves by creating alliances allowing them to position their vehicles in the global market, to share platforms and thus increased competition in the automotive market. Thus, to remain competitive, French automotive suppliers are continually increasing their R&D efforts to create value to their products by using several levers: multifunctionality, weight gain and decreased cost.
The project’s objective was to confirm the technical and economic potential of hybrid thermoplastic for high rate application and with strong economic constraints in the design of such an awning multifunctional unit incorporating structural and light parts. This demonstration was based around innovative architecture of the canopy area, an area with strong potential in terms of weight and multifunctional gains.
Funding
Results
The consortium benefited from a prototype production line for thermoplastic composites. The final prototype development of the 1.4m cowl panel was achieved in 2015. The project team worked to establish the product specification, process and economic objectives, integrate design constraints due to composite specificities.
Thanks to this product line the suppliers will be able to characterize on a simplified shape, the product and materials with a full automatized process close to the final one.