Coordinated Texture Harmony Between Formed Material and Molded Components

Achieving a harmonious vehicle interior with respect to total system texture match is critical to customer satisfaction. Typically, an instrument panel assembly consists of a plastic substrate covered with foam and vinyl and includes components such as the glove box door, ashtray, and filler panels; usually of dissimilar materials.

Due to the complex shape of the instrument panel, the vinyl texture pattern will distort in varying degrees during vacuum forming. Historically, component texture has not accounted for the vinyl texture distortion, thus resulting in a non-harmonious appearance between the components and the instrument panel vinyl.

This paper will present a significant advancement in precisely matching the texture of each molded component to its vinyl surroundings.