Buick® LeSabre® T-Type Fenders molded from SABIC Innovative Plastics' Noryl* GTX Resin go the distance to win SPE 2009 Hall of Fame Award

SABIC Innovative Plastics' tough, lightweight Noryl* GTX resin played an important key role in helping General Motors (GM) 1987 MY Buick® LeSabre® T-Type fenders win the coveted Hall of Fame Award from the Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®). Presented to GM for the sports coupe fenders, the award is given annually to an iconic and innovative application that has been in continuous use for more than 15 years, delivered a value proposition that could not be met by traditional materials, and has been broadly adopted within the automotive or ground-transportation industries. The Hall of Fame Award was presented to GM in Livonia, Mich. on Nov. 12, 2009 at the 39th annual SPE Innovation Awards Gala. The SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Competition is the oldest and largest recognition event in the automotive and plastics industries. (Refer to pictures on the right).

The longstanding, global success of Noryl GTX resin fenders once again highlights the proud history of breakthrough thermoplastics technologies pioneered by SABIC Innovative Plastics. The company's Noryl GTX resin clearly meets SPE's Hall of Fame qualifications. It is the first use of an engineering thermoplastic on a vertical body panel: the front fenders on the 1987 MY Buick LeSabre T-Type¹ sports coupe produced by General Motors Corp (GM). Fenders made with Noryl GTX resin were then quickly adapted to the Buick Reatta® sports coupe, 1988-1995 C&H platform vehicles, and in 1989-2005 Saturn® vehicle, and are now used today on a wide range of vehicles manufactured worldwide.

"We're honored to be recognized by SPE for the major contribution Noryl GTX resin has made to the global automotive industry," said Gregory A. Adams, vice president, SABIC Innovative Plastics, Automotive. "For more than two decades Noryl GTX resin fenders have demonstrated the value of using strong, lightweight thermoplastics for all sorts of critical automotive applications. SABIC Innovative Plastics continues to dedicate our resources and expertise to new material innovations that can follow in the footsteps of Noryl GTX resin to drive the development of newer, better next-generation applications. This award means a great deal to us, clearly showcasing the company's role as a top global supplier of advanced materials solutions."

Noryl GTX resin, which has been audited by environmental strategy firm GreenOrder, reduces automotive part weight resulting in better fuel economy and lower carbon dioxide emissions. It also expands design freedom for OEM designers to achieve shapes that are not possible or very difficult in metals, improves damage resistance, and lowers cost of repair. Designers and engineers are also able to meet stringent pedestrian protection norms by "designing in" energy absorbing features in  new generation fenders made from Noryl GTX resin.

SABIC Innovative Plastics is deeply involved in developing and applying, greener, lighter, and aesthetically pleasing solutions to support our customers in creating vehicles with reduced environmental impact," said Venkatakrishnan Umamaheswaran (UV) director of Marketing, Engineering and Technology for SABIC Innovative Plastics, Automotive. "We believe there are many opportunities to use high-performance plastics in different areas of automotive design, and we stand ready to supply our material expertise that can make this a reality, as it's done for fenders. Our greatest satisfaction comes from working side by side with customers as long-term global suppliers to help them achieve success."

Millions of Noryl GTX Fenders Lighten Environmental Impact
Since 1988, more than 20 million vehicles have been manufactured with fenders made from Noryl GTX resin in Europe, the United States, Japan, South America and China. Automakers that have chosen these fenders over the years include GM, Ford, Volkswagen, Renault, PSA Peugeot Citroen, BMW, Audi, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, and Nissan. Noryl GTX resins for fenders and other body panels offer major environmental benefits through weight-out. According to GreenOrder, because the resin is 50 percent lighter than steel, equipping all cars on the road today in Europe with fenders made from Noryl GTX resin would save 530 million liters (140 million gallons) of fuel and avoid 1.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

In addition to advantages such as increased freedom and flexibility to design and mold complex parts, fenders made from the new generation Noryl GTX resins can be painted in standard automotive body painting processes. The resin is intrinsically conductive and allows for online electrostatic painting without the need for an additional primer step. In day-to-day use, fenders molded from Noryl GTX resin typically resist minor dents and damage better than steel fenders. They are also typically resistant to corrosion and may be fully recycled at the end of the vehicle's life.

SABIC Innovative Plastics in profile
SABIC Innovative Plastics is a leading, global supplier of engineering thermoplastics with a 75-year history of breakthrough solutions that solve its customers' most pressing challenges. Today, SABIC Innovative Plastics is a multi-billion-dollar company with operations in more than 35 countries and approximately 9,000 employees worldwide. The company continues to lead the plastics industry with customer collaboration and continued investments in new polymer technologies, global application development, process technologies, and environmentally responsible solutions that serve diverse markets such as automotive, electronics, building & construction, transportation, and healthcare. For further information, view website: www.sabic-ip.com   Refer to page 34

Performance motorcycles for people with disabilities all set for USA conquest

Manufactured in Hyde, Cheshire, the world's first high-performance motorcycle for individuals with disabilities is being launched in the USA.

With assistance from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) in developing this exciting new motorcycle, Martin Conquest has signed a deal with American adapted vehicle specialists MobilityWorks to manufacture and distribute its new 1200cc, BMW-powered "Conquest" motorcycle through its 55-dealer network.

The 15-stong team at Martin Conquest design and build high-performance motorcycles for those with disabilities from the waist down, and are currently building demonstrators for the MobilityWorks network.

The Manufacturing Advisory Service helped the company identify methods of improving speed of manufacture of their motorcycle at the same time increasing cost-effectiveness and introducing new processes that reduced production time by 20%. They assisted with the introduction of stronger operating procedures that helped eliminate product rectification times and thus reduce pre-delivery inspections by 30%. MAS also helped the management team to formalise their assessment of component life expectancy.

Graeme McFarlane, managing director of Martin Conquest said: "The impartial advice from MAS was invaluable in not only helping us increase our production, but also in enabling us to secure this prestigious international contract for our company."

The new 1200cc, BMW-powered "Conquest" motorcycle.

Paul Fewtrell, Head of the Manufacturing Advisory Service in the North West said: "We are delighted that another great British product is now being exported and sold abroad. Not only have we helped to improve productivity at Martin Conquest, but our business advice practitioner's own extensive experience and understanding of the motorcycle world proved invaluable."

The Manufacturing Advisory Service in profile
The Manufacturing Advisory Service is designed to help SMEs with fewer than 250 employees to grow and prosper in line with their strategic requirements. An enhanced range of services is now helping to  boost innovation, reduce costs, increase productivity, leverage better value from supply chains and increase profitability.

Since 2002, MAS North West, which is delivered in the region by The Manufacturing Institute, has helped manufacturers to generate financial returns totalling £739 million and to safeguard 8790 jobs, and is leading the region to becoming the UK's centre of manufacturing excellence.

The Manufacturing Advisory Service is a subsidiary of the Manufacturing Institute, an independent charity - driven by manufacturers for manufacturers. For 15 years The Manufacturing Institute has helped transform manufacturing performance, working with over 4000 companies to gain competitive advantage from high impact skills building and productivity improvement programmes.

If you are a manufacturing business in the North West that would be interested in finding out how MAS can help improve your business, please call 0800 093 9077 and sign up for a free business review, or view website: www.mas-nw.co.uk for further details.

Asiamold 2010 attracts high level of repeat exhibitors

Asiamold with its unique fair concept from design to proto-typing to series production is one of the most dynamic mould and die industry exhibitions in the region. Receiving thousands of professional buyers and senior decision makers from the likes of Canon, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Panasonic and Siemens, 80% of last year's exhibitors have already confirmed their participation in the upcoming edition to be held at the Polyworld Trade Centre Expo from 15 - 17 September 2010.
 
Ready to fulfil the procurement needs of the mould and die industry are returning exhibitors Cimatron, EOS, Hongrita, J & K Mold, Magma, Schmiedewerke Groeditz, Shing Fung, Sunway, and Tebis. They will be joined this year by new comers including Good View, A-Torch and Jouder, together, the fourth edition of Asiamold is set to host a business atmosphere of technological innovation.
 
China's mould and die market going strong
The China's mould and die market continues to grow at a steady pace.The total import and export value for the first 9 months in 2009 was USD 2.8 billion, with imports valued at USD 1.47 billion and exports USD 1.33 billion. The majority of moulds being imported and exported during this timeframe were plastic, with market stakes of 50% and 71%, after which, came die casting moulds, with imports of 11% and exports of 19%.
 
Competitive labour rates and increasing domestic demand for motor vehicles have led a growing number of major auto brands in recent years to relocate their manufacturing operations to China. In 2009, China surpassed both the US and Japan to become the world's number one market and manufacturer of automobiles. Auto production in China reached 13.8 million units last year, up 48% from 2008. Industry experts predict that China's auto market will grow by 10 million units within 10 years.
 
Automold Zone and Plastics Design Zone to meet market needs
In view of the considerable potential existing for the production of auto components and the growing demand for specialised auto moulds in China, 70% of the popular Automold Zone has already been reserved. Key players exhibiting in this area include Datamatic, Gold Lodestar, GRG Lamko Mold, Kaidaxing, Jizhun Precision, PE Mould, Plastic Mould and XinMao Industry.
 
To meet the market needs of the plastics industry, a new Plastics Design Zone will be launched. Suppliers of hot-running technology, related materials, injection technology, engineering and CAD/CAM will be gathered together under one roof for easy sourcing. Already, top supplier Moldmaster has confirmed their presence.
 
Asiamold is organised by Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt, in cooperation with DEMAT GmbH and the Hong Kong Mould & Die Council. The 2009 show was hailed an international success, 298 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions participated in the event, which received 10,468 buyers from 38 countries and regions.

For further information on the 2010 show, view website: www.asiamold-china.com