Borealis puts auto industry innovation and investment in focus at VDI 2010

12.02.2010

VW Air Intake Manifold (AIM): high-performance XMOD GB306 is the auto industry’s first use of PP for this high tech application

Pioneering low weight innovations for car giant BMW and a cutting-edge material step change by VW will be among the production efficiency and environmentally-friendly focused developments presente by Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, at the VDI's 34th International Plastics in Automotive Engineering Congress in Mannheim, Germany from March 17-18, 2010.

"The VDI is an important meeting forum for the whole automotive value chain", comments Harald Hammer, Vice President for the business unit Mobility at Borealis. "At this year's event we will focus on the results of our active commitment to support innovation by our customers. We will demonstrate how close cooperation and Borealis' innovation and support capabilities lead to the development of unique materials designed to address the industry's manufacturing, environmental and safety challenges."

Advances in Borealis' XMOD™ glass reinforced polypropylene (PP) compounds, Nepol™ long glass fibre reinforced PPs and Daplen™ thermoplastic olefin (TPO) compounds are benefitting a wide range of interior, exterior and under-the-bonnet applications. Innovations featuring at VDI 2010 include:

BMW 7 Series dashboard carrier: a lightweight, recyclable alternative based on a tailor-made 20% long glass fibre Nepol grade. The new component offers up to 20% weight reduction with the excellent impact and mechanical performance of heavier alternatives, and lower systems costs through its better warpage behaviour and improved processing.
VW Air Intake Manifold (AIM): high-performance XMOD GB306 is the auto industry's first use of PP for this high tech application. It contributes to improved production cost-efficiency and lower overall production costs for AIM parts thanks to its lower processing temperatures and lighter weight/low density combination, which enable weight reductions of up to 15% and less energy usage. Significantly better acoustic performance and improved part recyclability are also achieved.

Borealis will also highlight its on-going investment in supply capabilities and partnerships to strengthen its on-the-ground support for the automotive market. These include new compounding sites, such as a 50,000 tonnes plant in China for automotive engineering plastics through Borealis' joint venture Borouge, a plant in Itatiba, Brazil, manufacturing and supply agreements with affiliates of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, and sales agents located around the world. The opening of Borealis' Innovation Headquarters in Linz, Austria with its one-stop-shop of research and development support and pre-testing facilities, adds to Borealis' ability to boost innovation capability and speed to market.

For more information meet Borealis at Stand 54 during the International Conference "Plastics in Automotive Engineering" or visit www.borealisgroup.com.

For further information please contact:

Lena Aschauer
External Communications Manager, Borealis
Vienna, Austria
+43 1 22 400 602
lena.aschauer@borealisgroup.com

Borealis is a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions that create value for society. With sales of EUR 6.6 billion in 2008, customers in over 120 countries, and 5,400 employees worldwide, Borealis is owned 64% by the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of Abu Dhabi and 36% by OMV, the leading energy group in the European growth belt. Borealis is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and has production locations, innovation centers and customer service centers across Europe and the Americas. Through Borouge, a joint venture between Borealis and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the world's major oil companies, the company's footprint reaches out to the Middle East, Asia Pacific, the Indian sub-continent and Africa. Established in 1998, Borouge employs approximately 1,400 people, has customers in more than 50 countries and its headquarters are in Abu Dhabi in the UAE and Singapore.

Building on the unique Borstar® technology and their experience in polyolefins for more than 50 years, Borealis and Borouge provide innovative, value creating plastics solutions for the infrastructure (pipe systems and power and communication cables), automotive and advanced packaging markets. In addition, Borealis offers a wide range of base chemicals from melamine and plant nutrients to phenol and acetone.

Today Borealis and Borouge manufacture 4.4 million tonnes of polyolefins (polyethylene and polypropylene) per year. Borouge is currently tripling its polyolefins manufacturing capacity to 2 million tonnes per year (t/y) by mid-2010 and an additional 2.5 million t/y is scheduled for 2013. The companies continue to invest to ensure that their customers throughout the value chain, across the globe, can always rely on product quality, consistency and security of supply.

Borouge and Borealis are committed to the principles of Responsible Care® and proactively contribute to addressing the world's water and sanitation challenges through their Water for the World™ initiative.

Also Know More About

Downloads & Support

Tour our Explorer Programmeto learn more on plastics