By Candace Roulo
Global Media Relations Manager & Copywriting
Envalior made its debut at Chinaplas 2024 in Shanghai, April 22-26. We showcased innovative applications at our booth, including lightweight automotive components that increase driving range and reduce emissions; energy storage connectors and inverters that enable a greener future and support carbon-neutrality; a drone camera made from low-density, highly bio-based materials; and sustainable sports shoes.
Below are 5 key takeaways from Chinaplas.
Automotive OEMs are increasingly pressured to lighten their vehicles, driven by new regulations and the ever-growing emphasis on safety and sustainability. During Chinaplas, we showcased cross car beams made of Akulon®/Durethan®. These innovative parts offer many benefits, including reduced carbon footprint, decreased weight, precise tolerances, and a multitude of integrated functions—all without compromising performance.
Also showcased at the booth was Akulon®/Durethan® air spring mounts. With the increasing demand for air springs OEMs are looking for cost reduction and production efficiencies, so a shift towards replacing metal with plastics is evident. Envalior's portfolio, featuring PA6, PA66, and TPC, offers the ideal materials to facilitate cost and weight reduction while promoting eco-friendly solutions for air springs.
Trends in automobile powertrain electrification are bringing new applications to the market, such as high voltage battery packs, e-motors, inverters, converters, and on-board chargers. At the booth, we showcased HV connectors designed to ensure robust connections for vehicle systems under all operating conditions. With Akulon SG-KGS5/HV & SG-KGS6/HV, we enable balanced performance in terms of outdoor F1 requirements, flame retardancy, electrical performance, easy processing, mechanical creep performance, and sealing assurance to IP67. With these features integrated into the Akulon SG series, EV high voltage connections become safer and better.
One of the non-automotive components we featured at the booth was sports shoes made from the specialty product Arnitel®, which optimizes the performance and durability of midsoles. Arnitel® is a thermoplastic copolyester material. We have a unique product portfolio for various foaming technologies, offering the possibility to achieve best-in-class rebound and comfort, combined with longer life compared to PEBA. Furthermore, we offer low carbon footprint solutions to reduce the environmental impact of shoes. Numerous midsoles made with Arnitel® are in production now and will hit the market in 2024 and 2025.
With increasing green and low-carbon initiatives, there are growing demands from governments, investors, and consumers to reduce carbon footprints and enhance operational sustainability in the chemical industry. At the same time, driven by industries such as the electricIn the vehicle sector, the transformation of manufacturing, the rapid development of technology, and the sustained growth in demand for high-performance and special engineering materials continues.
We now have a portfolio of around 150 bio-based and/or recycled-based grades with best-in-class materials, for example, Durethan ECO (PA6/PA66 with post-industrial recycled glass fibers) Pocan ECO (PBT with post-industrial recycled glass fibers) and Pocan ECO T (PBT/PET Blend with post-industrial recycled glass fibers and also post-consumer recycled PET). Or take our bio-based Stanyl: A bio-based high-temperature polyamide that cuts the footprint by 50%.
We are also known for Akulon RePurposed. It is made from abandoned recycled fishing nets and reduces carbon footprint by up to 82%. It is not only used in Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series and Schneider Electric’s Merten Ocean plastics range, but was also the world’s first ocean plastic used by Ford in the Ford Bronco. Together with Ford, we received the SPE award for this innovation.
Plus, the Jiangyin site in China is powered by 100% renewable energy, partly from purchased energy and partly from solar energy generated directly on-site.
Candace Roulo is Global Media Relations Manager & Copywriting for Envalior. Based in Troy, Michigan, she specializes in writing blogs, press releases and articles about advanced materials solutions. Prior to joining Envalior, Candace served in editorial roles at SME and Penton Media. Candace earned her bachelor’s degree in communication, specializing in public relations, at Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences.
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