www.elastogran.com

Polyurethanes for Improved Automotive Dynamics, Safety and Comfort

Elastogran GmbH

Polyurethane has been one of the most widely adapted and developed elastomers of the last 20 years and Elastogran, one of the world's leading polyurethane innovators, offers a wide selection of intelligent solutions to the automotive industry.

Polyurethanes are among the most important plastics today, particularly for the automotive industry, and consumption is forecast to continue to grow. Part of the worldwide BASF Group, Elastogran has more than 30 years' expertise in polyurethanes and is a high tech leader in the supply of polyurethane systems for automotive interior and exterior applications, polyurethane special elastomers and polyurethane base materials. The company develops polyurethane applications that are tailored to customer requirements and guarantees the same quality standards worldwide.

Serving a wide range of markets

Elastogran tailor-made polyurethane products, application techniques and intelligent system solutions are supplied to a wide variety of markets. The automotive industry is the company's largest market, followed by furniture, construction and footwear, while smaller volumes find their way into industries like electrical goods and electric distribution systems (cables, sheaths etc), chemistry, sports and leisure (eg, skiing equipment and sports shoes), engineering, agriculture and packaging (where there is a growing demand for TPU foil).

Automotive competence with innovative materials from Elastogran

To meet the needs of specific applications, Elastogran is divided into a number of business units, each handling a different range of products - Rigid Technical Foam (for the construction industry), Rigid Foam for refrigeration equipment, Soft Foam (the largest area, for furniture, vehicle seating, etc), Shoes, Automotive and CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers).

For more comfort in the car: Acoustic cover plate made of PU

Elastogran is headquartered in Germany with a large research and technology centre for polyurethane systems and base products, but manufacturing operations are successfully based on 11 decentralised systems houses to ensure that they remain close to their customers. Combining first hand experience of local conditions with a vast research know how, every PU system is produced and then fine tuned to the needs of the specific customer.

PU systems are top for comfort

Design, performance and fuel consumption are no longer the only crucial indicators for the success or failure of a car. More than ever before, interiors and cockpits - whether merely comfortable or extremely luxurious - also affect consumer buying decisions. This is an area in which PU products are proving their worth by offering the ultimate in quality, functionality, robustness and durability.

Solutions for the Interior

Elastoskin^® surface finish

A special feel: steering wheels made of Elastoskin

Dashboards and door side panels made of the PU system Elastoskin^® ensure a high quality appearance and particularly fine tactile properties - for example in the Daimler Chrysler S-Class and the SLK. They can be produced in constant wall thicknesses and allow much scope for design. The PU system can be produced as a moulded skin or as a sprayskin. As a surfacing material for the car's interior, it creates a high class, streamlined, premium look. The material has a unique colour and sheen, and the opportunities it presents for integrating functions are also markedly better than in any other processes. Elastoskin's flexible design, multi-colour potential and much wider scope open up new possibilities for interior design.

Elastoskin can be used in combination with Elastoflex E to ensure an extraordinary soft-touch surface.

PU honeycomb-technology for lightweight components in the interior

Elastoflex^® E foambacking

Semi-rigid PU Elastoflex^® E systems are ideal for foambacking surface skins, films and moulded parts. Elastoflex E in vehicle interiors complies with the demands of the automobile manufacturers and offers special benefits. The PU foambacking is used specifically to increase passenger comfort, guaranteeing high quality appearance, soft contours, excellent feel and a wider variety of design options than traditional laminating. It also provides additional noise and vibration absorption, and contours can be presented more distinctly - an advantage both for designers and vehicle users. It is also economic with very short demoulding cycles and high levels of processing safety.

Elastoflex^® E honeycomb

A new state-of-the-art honeycomb technology using semi-hard Elastoflex^® E system is intended for boot floors, rear shelves and spare tyre covers offers. Clever combinations of paper honeycombs and polyurethane are easy to manufacture to produce lightweight vehicle interior components that are capable of withstanding considerable stress and also have good sound and vibration absorption.

Elastocoat^® C veneer coating

Cost-effective Elastocoat^® C provides a very fine, light-fast and scratch resistant transparent coating for decorative elements made of precious wood - a favourite feature of luxury automobile interiors. Elastogran has developed a polyurethane system that optimises the coating of wood elements while making them especially economical.

Elastofoam^® I

Steering wheels made with Elastofoam^® I have a lightweight, integral soft core and a tough outer skin. They are wear resistant, have a good quality appearance and can be used in all vehicle classes. The polyurethane core lends itself to the integration into the steering wheel of many different function controls. Low density PU foams from Elastogran are economical and offer time and cost benefits in production.

Elastoflex^® W

When driving, comfort is very important. Elastoflex^® W, a soft foam system for seat cushions, arm and head rests, contributes to fatigue-free and enjoyable driving. Not only does polyurethane foam have excellent absorption characteristics, it also guarantees minimal resilience loss and an optimal microclimate.

In floor mats and headliners, Elastoflex W ensures a noticeable increase in comfort by providing noise and vibration insulation, as well as dampening airborne sound.

Elastogran offers a range of low emission foam systems for interior applications thus enhancing both the quality of the car interior and the comfort for the driver.

Solutions for the exterior

Elastolit^®

A class of its own: PU systems for exterior parts

The polyurethane systems Elastolit^® D, K, and R are ideal for manufacturing great looking exterior parts such as mudguards, bumpers, door sills, spoilers or roof modules. They guarantee low weight, excellent aerodynamics, reduced susceptibility to minor damage, top mechanical properties and a high level of design freedom. Taken together Elastogran's Elastolit systems are a first class alternative to classic materials in the automotive exterior applications.

New products and new markets

Polyurethanes play a significant role in the production and design of modern cars. Their high potential for innovation presents the automotive industry with opportunities for product differentiation and sales advantage. Customer-led demand is particularly strong for lighter materials, systems with less emissions and for materials that have better properties and an improved performance. With the flair of designers and the knowledge and skill of engineers and car manufacturers, polyurethanes can be decisive in achieving increased automobile dynamics, safety and comfort.

Elastogran is one of the leading companies in the PU industry and is constantly researching new products, new markets and additional applications in existing ones. Elastogran PU systems can deliver an extraordinary driving experience and extraordinary success for their automotive industry customers.

Elastogran GmbH
Elastogranstr. 60
D- 49448 Lemförde
Germany

www.elastogran.com
Tel: ++49 5443 12 2238

 

Click here to obtain a copy of AUTO 2009