With its complexity, the automotive industry is probably the market with the widest range of applications. Visible parts for the interior, easy parts for the powertrain, optically sensitive parts for the exterior, large parts such as bumpers or cockpits and much more. Furthermore, depending on the function of the parts, differentiated production solutions are required to meet a wide range of requirements, both on the product side and in upstream and downstream processing. Each product group has its own requirements regarding material homogeneity, surface quality and precision.
Added to this is the diversity of applications through material and process combinations (multi-component manufacturing, foam, LSR, IML, IMD, etc.). Given this diversity of parts and production, T1 suppliers and networks are under increasing pressure. Quality requirements are huge, product life cycles are getting shorter and shorter and price pressure is increasing.
New requirements for environmental protection will further exacerbate the cost spiral. As cost pressures are reflected in production and logistics, deadline pressures for the processor will also increase. Moreover, futurologists see the automotive industry facing far-reaching changes. Alternative drivers and autonomous driving will shape future visions of automotive culture.
What is needed is efficiency, top quality and maximum flexibility on the machine side in combination with new concepts for highly economical and ecologically advantageous solutions. The tougher the competition, the more flexible the production portfolio in plastics processing must be. "Pinpoint technology" is extremely important in the automotive industry. Probably more important than in any other sector.
.png){kind=small}