Historically, plastic has been the material associated with dramatic parts consolidation. Currently, part consolidation has been limited by the individual limitations of the various plastic processing techniques. In order for plastics to continue providing revolutionary products, we must expand our thinking beyond the current single process applications and allow our creativity to develop multi-process parts that will show the industry a new generation of applications.
The automotive industry is demanding revolutionary new technology. Alpha I, GE Plastics' response to this revolution, is the next generation of processing equipment.
At the K-89 Show in Dusseldorf, West Germany, the Alpha I processed and GE Plastics introduced a prototype integrated bumper beam and fascia system. The integrated bumper system is an impact beam compression molded from AZDEL® composite with a fascia injection molded from XENOY® resin produced as one unit in a 4.0 minute cycle. This system will represent a weight reduction along with part consolidation, while still meeting FMVSS requirements.
Alpha I technology opens new windows of part possibilities, such as:
Multi-process technology will provide the automobile industry with the capability to conquer the new frontiers of part complexity and integration at reduced cost.