Surface Finishing Compression Molding (SFC): A Comparative Cost Study for Paint vs. Paint Film Finishing

New technologies are required to sustain an industrial society. Their fragile early life must be nurtured by the risk takers in the beginning stages of development for new technologies to survive. In the automotive industry, new technologies that focus on reduced cost, reduced pollution and/or reduced energy consumption are being carefully evaluated. The Valyi Surface Finishing Compression Molding (SFC Molding^®) process addresses all three issues^1,2. This process is in the early stage of development. Large, thermoplastic, exterior panels (door/hood size) have been made on commercial equipment to demonstrate general feasibility but there are no “show me” production parts for the risk averse. In the absence of production case studies, an investor (licensee candidate) must examine the potential benefits of the process relative to the state-of-the-art technology. This paper examines an approximation of the cost to produce a major exterior panel (roof) by SFC molding versus conventional steel and paint.