The Light Attitude interiors concept features several applications never seen before, and fabrics replace many of the conventional hard-surface structures-even the centre console is made of fabric.
The glovebox lid becomes a sliding fabric cover and ventilation diffuses air through fabric rather than traditional hard vents.
A door module partially trimmed with natural fibres serves as an acoustic chamber, allowing the installation of smaller, lightweight speakers. A smart integrated docking station offers both weight reduction and new flexibility for incorporating ever-evolving media players. The new Light Attitude interiors are said to be between 15-20% lighter than conventional interior systems overall.
Moving away from concepts towards current practice, Switzerland's Rieter Automotive has announced that its first Ultra Silent underbody modules went into volume production on schedule in the second half of 2008.
This technology is based on patented materials and processes jointly developed with Rieter Textile Systems and involving combinations of high and low-density nonwoven and woven fabrics and foam products.
Featuring very light weight coupled with high rigidity and acoustic effectiveness, Ultra Silent's benefits are said to include:
- A 1.5 db or 3% average Sound Pressure Level (SPL) improvement of exterior noise compared to solid plastic solutions.
- In one specific vehicle example, 2.7kg (45%) lower weight was achieved on the underbody package.
As a 100% PET material Ultra Silent is glass free and totally recyclable and underbody shields in the technology can be combined with an acoustic heat shield system to further improve exterior noise and thermal management.
Another interesting new product is SawasorbExterior from Germany's Sandler, which combines different characteristics in a single medium-achieved solely through the nonwoven production process without additional process steps.
Computer-assisted simulation technology has enabled the company to develop new products corresponding to customer specifications without having to conduct protracted pilot productions and as a consequence, the raw materials, energy, time and costs involved in pilot production were all considerably reduced.
Polyester is known for its excellent heat and sound insulating properties, the company says, and the low weight of the new nonwoven material, its excellent emission values, recyclability and clean processing allow for a wide range of applications. Sandler's polyester nonwovens can be adjusted to specific customer demands and withstand even extreme conditions in exterior applications such as wheel-arch protection.
Many other examples of new nonwoven developments for the automotive sector will be showcased at the next INDEX event, which takes place at GENEVA PALEXPO from 12th-15th April 2011.
Originally published in The Stitch Times; August 2009
