Now that the customer-specific development phase for a structural automotive application has been completed, marking the end of the qualification process, structural integrity tests of the final product begin.
The strategic focus of TenCate will initially focus on structural parts and other components which are crucial for the integrity and safety of the vehicle. The demand for lightweight structures in hybrid and electric cars for daily use will grow in the coming years. This will be a gradual process that will evolve through co-development with partners that supply the automotive industry in close cooperation with OEMs. Dave Clarke, global group director, TenCate Advanced Composites stated: “The strategic goal of TenCate is to use our leading position in thermoplastic composites and established industrial manufacturing capabilities to generate solutions for the automotive industry. TenCate has achieved its current position over the past few decades mainly in the aerospace industry with its TenCate Cetex product portfolio. “The production of lightweight vehicles in larger volumes will become reality by using fibre-reinforced thermoplastics. These advanced materials can substantially speed up and industrialize manufacturing processes for parts and components. Carbon fibre-reinforced composites will in the future no longer be used only in Formula 1 and high-end sports car production, but also be a critical part of mainstream, modern and fuel-efficient vehicles.” www.tencate.com
