Innovative Visteon Technology Delivers Seamless Look and Feel on Instrument and Door Panels On New Renault Modus
KERPEN, Germany, Dec. 3, 2004 - An innovative vehicle interiors technology from Visteon Corporation (NYSE:VC) contributed to the unique seamless interior on the new Renault Modus.
In this first commercial European application using a Visteon technology called negative vacuum forming TPO, the same high-quality look and feel is achieved on both the instrument panel and door panels of the Modus -- creating harmony and balance in the vehicle interior.
The Modus, launched at the Paris Motor Show, is Visteon�'s first application of negative vacuum forming TPO on both the instrument and door panels of a vehicle. This advanced technology produces a high level of craftsmanship with superior grain and pattern definition. It also allows for greater freedom in the use of colors, textures and surface effects.
Negative vacuum forming is the technology used to form and imprint grain to skins. The raw material used in the process is Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) non-grained foil. The grain is printed on the skin during the vacuum forming process, while heat, vacuum and pressure are combined. The grained mold is porous to permit air extraction from the skin.
The technology can be used either on compact skins for foaming or on complex skins for low-pressure over-molding. It has proved to be a cost-effective solution by offering a cheaper alternative to PU (Polyurethane) and PVC skins and by using more cost effective tooling.
"Visteon�'s negative vacuum forming TPO technology offers a complete portfolio for finishing of instrument and door panels, which can be adapted to meet the most challenging needs of the vehicle manufacturer," said Ralf Haibach, interior systems product development director, Europe and South America. "The process brings unique grain and pattern definition to instrument and door panels as well as console skins. The same look and feel can be achieved for the full vehicle interior and maintained throughout the vehicle�'s lifetime."
Negative vacuum forming TPO completes Visteon�'s wide range of skin technologies for instrument and door panels.
The main features of Visteon�'s negative vacuuming forming TPO technology are:
ˇ Outstanding design freedom and styling possibilities, offering a wide range of colors and grains, including metallic and translucent effects.
ˇ Visteon�'s experience in TPO ensures high quality of intricate details such as radii and lettering.
ˇ TPO material has recycling advantages over PU and PVC and is lower in emissions that can cause interior fogging.�'
ˇ TPO is a cost-effective alternative to PU and PVC for both instrument and door panels while retaining the same quality as for molded skins.
ˇ A weight reduction of 20 per cent is achieved using this process compared to conventional PVC slush.
The Modus instrument panel and door panels are manufactured at Visteon�'s Medina de Rioseco facility, close to Valladolid, Spain. The facility, opened in 1993, manufactures a full range of interior parts.
Visteon Corporation is a leading full-service supplier that delivers consumer-driven technology solutions to automotive manufacturers worldwide and through multiple channels within the global automotive aftermarket. Visteon has about 72,000 employees and a global delivery system of more than 200 technical, manufacturing, sales and service facilities located in 25 countries.
Visteon Deutschland GmbH
Communications
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50170 Kerpen
Germany
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