Packaging
Borealis Nepol PP aids BMWs low weight dashboard innovation
Friday 19. March 2010 - Nepol GB215HP from Borealis is the only LGF-PP compatible with BMWs automated integral foam injection technology, known as SGI.
Borealis Nepol GB215HP, a tailor-made long glass fibre polypropylene (LGF-PP), is the material success behind BMWs development of up to 20% lighter, single material dashboard carrier solution for its latest 7 Series models. The lightweight carrier supports BMWs drive to simplify production and lower costs while improving its vehicles fuel efficiency and environmentally-friendly profile.
Nepol GB215HP from Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastic solutions, is the only LGF-PP compatible with BMWs automated integral foam injection technology, known as SGI. SGI enables BMW to produce lightweight parts which exhibit the same performance profile as compact material and heavier parts.
BMWs choice of Borealis 20% LGF-PP grade to replace its previous two-component dashboard construction has secured a number of advantages in addition to weight reduction.
Nepol GB215HP gives significantly better warpage behaviour and therefore improved processing and lower system costs for the BMW team. The new single material solution requires less material to achieve the outstanding mechanical properties of high stiffness and strength, and excellent impact performance required for the dashboard carrier, adding to the overall production cost-efficiency and component performance. The use of recyclable PP contributes to raising the environmental profile of the 7 Series, with the general vehicle weight saving ultimately lowering fuel consumption to further benefit the environment.
To ensure optimal benefits from the switch to Nepol GB215HP, Borealis worked closely with BMWs Landshut Innovation and Technology Centre to provide fine-tuning of the material for the injection moulding process and CAED support for processing and performance simulation.
“The long glass fibres of Nepol GB215HP provide for outstanding mechanical properties with the ease of processing and knock-on production efficiency benefits required for this dashboard application,” comments Harald Hammer, Vice President for business unit Mobility at Borealis. “BMW is at the forefront of automotive development and is continuously exploring new ways to make its vehicles safer, lighter and more fuel efficient, and more environmentally-friendly. By switching to Nepol GB215HP BMW fulfils its goal of improving component and vehicle performance and reducing production costs without compromising its very high standards of engineering.”