SABIC DEBUTS AT NPE 2018 NEW PORTFOLIO OF PP COMPOUNDS FOR SOFT FEEL IN AUTOMOTIVE INTERIOR COMPONENTS

SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, unveiled here today at NPE 2018, booth S19001, a new and growing portfolio of SABIC® polypropylene (PP) compounds that deliver a soft feel combined with excellent scratch performance in unpainted, low gloss automotive interior components. The new SABIC® PP compounds offer the luxurious haptics and finishes that today’s consumers demand – even in lower-priced vehicles. At the same time, these injection molding materials can help automotive OEMs and tiers reduce costs by as much as 50 percent by avoiding secondary operations such as applying soft paint, fabric, foam or other surface covering.

“Elegance, comfort and quiet in automotive interiors are becoming increasingly important to buyers of vehicles at all price points,” said Scott Fallon, global leader of SABIC’s Automotive business. “SABIC engineered these new PP compounds to address this demand by helping manufacturers deliver an interior environment that connotes luxury while controlling costs. Our customers can benefit from the outstanding aesthetics and value this innovative material technology provides.”

Soft Feel and Strong Performance

In addition to a soft tactile feel, SABIC® PP compounds provide an attractive matte surface with excellent scratch resistance, good impact performance and low shrinkage. These SABIC materials also deliver good sound damping capability to help create a quiet cabin environment. The portfolio, which is available globally, includes several grades of short glass fiber-reinforced PP to give customers a choice of stiffness level and material density. The materials are also UV stabilized to prevent fading and color shift.

Possible applications where this material can be used include interior trims, seat and console side cladding, glove boxes, door panels and other similar interior components. SABIC® PP compounds allow these types of parts to be efficiently manufactured using only one high-volume injection molding step.
 
Cost Savings without Compromise

Leading Indian automaker, Tata Motors, is the first automotive manufacturer to use one of the SABIC® PP compounds in vehicle interior applications. Tata Motors selected a SABIC® PP compound to mold parts with a soft feel and high-end appearance in the steering column cover and speedometer cluster top for its 2017 Tiago hatchback.

The company eliminated the need for expensive paint systems, saving about 30 percent, while achieving the same level of performance and aesthetics.

The Tiago’s steering wheel column is on display at the company’s booth for the duration of NPE 2018.

• SABIC and brands marked with ™ are trademarks of SABIC or its subsidiaries or affiliates.
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• © 2018 Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC). All Rights Reserved.
• Any brands, products or services of other companies referenced in this document are the trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of their respective holders.

ABOUT SABIC

SABIC is a global leader in diversified chemicals headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We manufacture on a global scale in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific, making distinctly different kinds of products: chemicals, commodity and high performance plastics, agri-nutrients and metals.

We support our customers by identifying and developing opportunities in key end markets such as construction, medical devices, packaging, agri-nutrients, electrical and electronics, transportation and clean energy.

SABIC recorded a net profit of SR 18.4 billion (US$ 4.9 billion) in 2017. Sales revenues for 2017 totaled SR 149.8 billion (US$ 39.9 billion). Total assets stood at SR 322.5 billion (US$ 86 billion) at the end of 2017. Production in 2017 stood at 71.2 million metric tons.

SABIC has more than 34,000 employees worldwide and operates in more than 50 countries. Fostering innovation and a spirit of ingenuity, we have 11,534 global patent filings, and have significant research resources with innovation hubs in five key geographies – USA, Europe, Middle East, South Asia and North Asia.

The Saudi Arabian government owns 70 percent of SABIC shares with the remaining 30 percent publicly traded on the Saudi stock exchange.

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This release was published on openPR.