Stahl's Stay Clean® and Stay Silent® technologies address modern design and mobility trends. Stay Clean® offers a protective coating for leather, synthetic materials, and alternative materials ensuring easy maintenance of lighter, white interiors which are becoming popular in contemporary design. Stay Silent® provides anti-squeak coatings for automotive interiors, enhancing the comfort and tranquility essential in electric vehicles (EVs). These innovations support the shift towards lighter color schemes and the specific requirements of EVs, contributing to a cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable future in vehicle design.

Three commonly discussed topics- designs trends, sustainability and lightweighting. All isolated challenges within themselves, where we as experts in metal processing, are relied on contextualising into one deliverable concept. We discuss how the implementation of digitally and optimally designed components reduce not only mass and embodied carbon, but tooling cost and lead times. Practices traditionally associated with low volume builds, we look to translate for mass production competitivity. We also stress the importance if an OEM supplier communication shift from buyer to engineer to enable the uptake of these new structures, be it functional or a new aesthetic trend.

UNICORN is an EU-funded project that has as target to design, develop & validate innovative green and circular technologies for automotive electronics on 4 industrial use cases in automotive electronics (casing, dashboard, set & door, tyre) as well as Mobility-as-a-Service solutions.

How sustainable can coated materials be? Can they be sustainable at all? Recyclability is one of the major topics theses days but is very complex when it comes to coated or decorated components. But what are the main drivers in calculating the carbon footprint of a component? Is recycling the only key factor? Do process chains and a high durability maybe even compensate the lower recyclability? These are some the leading questions that are currently investigated at the Kunststoff-Institut in Lüdenscheid in various projects. How to calculate the footprint combined with investigations on processes and influencing factors will lead to a holistic understanding of how to make coated components more sustainable without a negative influence on quality and design.

The automotive sector is increasingly adopting eco-friendly solutions, including for injected parts in automotive interiors. As a major environmental contributor, the industry is striving to use greener, sustainable materials while maintaining quality. This aligns with the growing biopolymer market and the use of natural, bio-based, and secondary raw materials. A Portuguese consortium has employed gum rosin resin derivatives as compatibilizers for polymer components due to their thermal stability and compatibility with extrusion and injection moulding processes. These derivatives are versatile, multifunctional natural raw materials that enhance the performance and bio content of synthetic and biodegradable polymeric matrices, yielding significant benefits.

This presentation explores the innovative application of photogrammetry in assessing the stretch behavior of functional inserts during the thermoforming process, a critical aspect in the production of Injection Moulded Electronics (IME). IME technology, which integrates electronic functionalities into 3D moulded structures, has seen rapid advancements, but challenges persist in ensuring the precise deformation of functional inserts during thermoforming. We introduce a novel methodology employing photogrammetry, a technique that uses photographs to measure distances and establish maps and models. Our approach allows for accurate, non-contact measurement of the stretch distribution of functional inserts, providing valuable insights for optimizing thermoforming parameters. The

As a leading surface finishing brand, we are committed to promoting sustainability, enhancing environmental performance, and resource efficiency, and adopting ambitious frameworks. Our presentation covers two key aspects: 1) Sustainable plating for the automotive industry, Cr(VI)-free and non PFAS, offering durability and quality. 2) A carbon footprint study of electroplating, analyzing materials and energy use for optimization, including a comparison with alternative technologies.

The demand for new concepts, that contribute to making the automotive cabin a "third living space", has increased in recent years. In this way, new solutions to enhance the comfort in the automotive interior will be presented: innovative approaches to thermal management within surfaces of automotive interior, focusing on the combination of active heating systems, based on printed electronics and technical textiles, and innovative functional materials; and new concepts with suction function to hold objects at centre console during braking and dynamic acceleration of the vehicle, highlighting the advantages of additive manufacturing technologies in the automotive sector.

The damage analysis of coated and uncoated plastics is a complex task and requires a great deal of specialist knowledge of the individual processes as well as about methods for determination. The Kunststoff-Institut has many years of experience in both fields and has created an AI-supported solution in cooperation with the AI-specialist d.velop AG to find solutions to problems faster and more comprehensively.

In 2017, the REACH regulation limited the use of hexavalent chrome (Cr6) for chrome plating and defined a deadline for its use in 2030 in the European Union. Since then, many companies have tried alternative manufacturing methods for plastic components. TAIYO took the lead and, after developing a chrome plating method 100％ free of hexavalent chrome in pre-treatment and electroplating whose mass production started in 2022, has been improving it and adding new features such as the possibility of PC/ABS chrome plating or chrome colors virtually identical to those that can be achieved with hexavalent chrome.

Datwyler conducts the industrialization phase of a novel transducer technology completely made out of polymers ("Electroactive Polymers" or EAPs), with a first industrial-scale pilot production line operational by Q4 2024. Datwyler EAPs are versatile actuators which can be manufactured in various geometries and sizes, customized to customer specific needs. EAPs are intrinsically silent, self-sensing, compact, lightweight, low energy consumption, and exhibit high strokes at low response times. EAPs constitute a robust low mechanical complexity alternative to conventional actuation technologies which can be straightforwardly integrated and assembled with reduced costs.

Textile based composite solutions are a growing trend in the automotive sector, not only for structural applications, but also for interior decorative purposes. These solutions take advantage of a wide array of materials ranging from natural fibers, high performance yarns such as carbon or basalt, and conductive yarns that provide the structure with smart functionalities. Advanced textile manufacturing techniques allow the combination of these materials into hybrid yarns and fabrics, or complex tailored structures integrating smart elements that can be processed into composite parts with improved aesthetics, high-performance, integration of smart features and low environmental impact.

The evolution of automotive interiors into sophisticated and interactive work and leisure spaces is driving the development of smart surfaces, those that have both a decorative and a functional pupose. As never before, there is a desire for smart surfaces that are not only visually attractive and glare-free matt in appearance, but are also softer to touch, offer more accurate control and are anti-fingerprint. This presentation discusses a new range of matt hardcoated films that offer visually stunning design options for interior designers and discusses support for existing film insert molding (FIM) processes.

As the automotive industry undergoes a revolution to become cleaner, it is crucial to achieve a reduction of environmental impact. Bcomp’s proprietary flax-based materials, ampliTex™ and powerRibs™, applied to automotives' interiors can help to decrease carbon footprint by cutting weight and reducing plastics use. Additionally, these materials also offer recyclability and aesthetic design features, contributing to a more sustainable industry through circular opportunities and seamless integration into existing manufacturing process. Proven in use cases with brands such as CUPRA, Volvo, or Polestar, Bcomp’s technologies are challenging standard solutions with one based on nature.

Over the past decade, automotive interiors have undergone significant transformations, marked notably by the integration of light, transparent materials, and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) functions. While consumers have welcomed these advancements, the next critical challenge lies ahead: the transition towards employing more sustainable materials. The rigorous demands and stringent standards of automotive applications raise concerns regarding the broader adoption of sustainable materials across various applications. Consequently, there is an increasing need to comprehend the performance levels, long-term supply safety, and quality consistency of material options provided by suppliers throughout the value chain. Simultaneously, there is a noticeable shift in the Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) design language towards expressing sustainability, propelled by the younger generation's heightened environmental consciousness. These changes must be evident, identifiable, and effectively communicated through the vehicle's appearance to signify ecological awareness. At Covestro, we aim to outline potential strategies to address these consumer demands through the utilization of our material solutions. This should serve as a foundational step for further exploration and discussion.

On the road to automated and connected driving, the vehicle interior is facing a complete redesign. Global future trends have a significant influence on the ambience of future interiors, as they shape the development of interior design. Textiles play a decisive role in automotive interiors, as they fulfill a variety of functions and have a significant influence on the ambience, appearance and comfort. By integrating additional functions into the textile, innovative solutions are offered to meet the needs of the occupants.The presentation will show different textile based developments in the interior world.

The automotive industry currently makes use of a wide variety of composite materials and complex processes. Over the past few years, we have seen a trend of simplification, specifically within interior applications. At Freudenberg Performance Materials, we now offer innovative design solutions to keep pace with the current demands of the market.

PP is used in large quantities as automobile parts and is suitable for recycling. Further growth is expected in the future, but when used as a base for decorative films challenges have included weak ink adhesion, and the difficulty of maintaining the balance between the high quality design, physical properties and moldability. DNP has overcome these challenges by leveraging the printing technology and know-how it has cultivated over many years to establish a mass production technology for PP-based automotive decorative films.

Future Total Cost of Ownership is expressed in carbon footprint. JSP, global raw material supplier, is leading the design of EPP systems for closed-loop recycling to meet the Green Deal. Using certified closed-loop raw materials is key. EPP solutions using structural inserts and fixation points are a challenge for closed-loop recycling upon vehicle dismantling. Case-studies will show practical solutions which can be implemented in the design and manufacturing process of high precision interior components to minimise the carbon footprint during the full life-cycle. Savings in terms of weight, production cost, and ultimately carbon footprint will be highlighted.

An exciting journey that starts with OEM design innovation, followed by application evaluations and selection, continues through OEM technology validation and RFQ preparation. Along the way, further benchmarking studies are conducted to confirm the technology's competitiveness, while an ecosystem is built to ultimately bring the technology to market.

The automotive industry continually seeks innovative functionalities to enhance user experience, focusing on comfort and security. Structural components play a crucial role, and implementing a sophisticated sensorization system can alert drivers to damage, optimizing the replacement and/or arrangement of parts. Additionally, thermal regulation systems can significantly improve driving comfort by offering a customized experience. To achieve these goals, we are exploring technologies such as printed electronics techniques and the integration of conductive yarns into the car's fabrics. These solutions hold great potential for enhancing sensorization and thermal regulation in automotive applications, contributing to a safer and more comfortable driving experience.

The integration of decor and HMI gives rise to smart surfaces, where light plays a crucial role beyond simple warning signals or creating a cozy atmosphere with ambient colors. The new Preh solutions are seamlessly integrated into the complete car interior including display and light interaction. They address the challenges of static vs dynamic lighting towards functional and emotional design. The Preh engineers have also pioneered three dimensional optical effects for giving car brands their specific iconic look.

The presentation will explain how the recycled leather is made, from the scraps to the final finishing. So we are going to speak about: COMPOSITION: all the materials and substances contained in the recycled leather and why they are used and put together to get the final product PERFORMANCE: phisical properties of the recycled leather QUALITY: technology and production sites introduction and quality control overview LCA: environmental impact estimation certificate FUTURE PROJECT: preparing to build up smart technology plant in East Asia to rescue worldwide leather waste.

Products with recycled fabrics is the trend, nowadays. More and more brands are using recycled fabrics on thier new collection. We are one of the biggest producer of recycled polyester yarn, which is from WASTE textile. it is a close loop recycling, once the textile products can not be used any more, we can recycle them again. There is always some polyester textile used in the car. For this, Cyclone yarn can be the best choose.