| Description |
|
Roof Appliques |
| OEM, Model, Model Year |
|
General Motors, Saturn VUE, 2002 |
| System Supplier, Contact, Phone |
|
A.P. Plasman Corporation, George Mitri, (519)737-6984 |
| Molder/Processor, Contact and Phone |
|
Moldplas, George Mitri, (519)737-6984 |
| Toolmaker, Contact and Phone |
|
Build a Mold, Geroge Mitri, (519)737-6984 |
| Material Supplier, Contact and Phone |
|
DuPont Automotive , Jose Moreno/Tom Baltus, (905)333-0668 |
| Generic resin type |
|
PET + GF |
| Resin Trade Name |
|
Rynite |
| Grade |
|
RE-5309 |
| Nominated by, Company |
|
Jose Moreno & Tom Baltus, DuPont Canada, Inc |
| Address |
|
Box 2200, Streetsville, Mississauga, Ontario, L5M 2H3 |
| Phone |
|
(905)821-5937 |
| Fax |
|
(905)821-5230 |
| Email |
|
jose.j.moreno@can.dupont.com |
| Summary | | Appliques offer distinctive styling differentiation and functional benefit as a rain trough around window openings. These appliques are larger, and longer, at almost 70 inches (A-B applique), than any current commercial appliques. Incorporate new design features that reduced the number of fasteners, and incorporated flow leaders that coincide with styling lines, increased structural rigidity and reduced warpage. Weight Savings: Significant weight savings compared to steel and BMC. Cost Savings: N/A Cost Avoidance: N/A |
| Most Innovative Feature | | Appliques offer distinctive styling differentiation and functional benefit as a rain trough around window openings. These appliques are larger, and longer, at almost 70 inches (A-B applique), than any current commercial appliques. In developing these parts, significant breakthroughs in mold design and design functionality were achieved. |
| Other Innovative Features | | These parts incorporate new design features such as: a) A reduction in the number of fasteners (only 3 on the 'B-D' applique), b) Incorporation of flow leaders that coincide with styling lines. A secondary function of these flowleaders is to increase structural rigidity and to help reduce warpage. |
| Forming Process | | Injection Molding using edge gating from one end. Plastic flow is along the entire length of the parts. Special I/M machine injection unit features are required. |
| First time process used? | | No. However, the new appliques are significantly longer and thus represent new and unique challenges as far as molding is concerned. |
| Previous Process Used | | Metal (steel stamping) and BMC (compression molding) |
| Tooling Innovations | | Mold design and process development was challenging. a) "In-mold hole punch mechanism" - developed for this particular application, to avoid having any molded-in attachment holes, - patented by A.P. Plasman. b) Built-in thermocouples for process optimization. c) 2-station, six axis robot cell for parting-line trimming and deburring. |
| New Material Developments | | N/A |
| Weight Savings | | Significant weight savings compared to steel and BMC. |
| Direct Consumer Benefit | | Styling and functional rain guard benefits |
| Translates to other Vehicles? | | Yes, it can be translated to other vehicle lines. |
| Safety Benefits | | N/A |