GE Plastics’ Automotive Business Accelerates Activities for Eastern European Booming Automotive Industry

Underscoring these efforts is GE Plastics, Automotive’s participation in the 10th International Fair of Plastics Processing PLASTPOL (X Międzynarodowe Targi Przetwórstwa Tworzyw Sztucznych PLASTPOL) in Kielce, Poland.

Headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, with customer support offices in Warsaw, Poland, and Budapest, Hungary, the GE Plastics, Automotive team is structured to respond to rapid growth in the Eastern European market. With plans to further invest in materials, technology, market development, and application development, GE is well positioned to support Eastern Europe’s automotive market needs. The company has increased its local technical and support functions that can help local molders and tiers improve their market position in the Automotive industry.

“We offer a comprehensive portfolio of products for this market space in addition to value-added services like application engineering, and Six Sigma training to support our customers in application and component developments for the automotive industry”, says Nico Egelman, Automotive Commercial Director - Eastern Europe, GE Plastics.

“GE is well positioned to work together with automobile manufacturers in Eastern Europe,” said Greg Adams, vice president GE and general manager of the Automotive business at GE Plastics “The company’s global business can provide the automotive industry with a wide range of services and products that combine outstanding performance with design freedom and offer weight-out and cost-out opportunities while also supporting the environment,” Adams said.

The introduction of GE’s ecomagination* initiative and related portfolio of products that support the environment is a major company milestone. “GE is one of the first major companies to launch such a global initiative that aggressively brings to market new technologies that may help customers meet pressing environmental challenges,” said Derek Buckmaster, Global Market Director, Body Panels & Glazing. “The launch demonstrates a key part of GE’s global strategy is to support the environment while finding innovative materials solutions for our customers in the automotive industry.”

GE Plastics, Automotive offers new solutions for seven key automotive segments: 1) body panels & glazing; 2) exterior components, trim & accessories; 3) lighting; 4) structures & interiors; 5) underhood;

6) new markets; and 7) design innovation & technology demonstration.

In body panels & glazing, GE offers, among other technologies, Noryl GTX* thermoplastic fenders, in addition to Lexan* SLX film, which could make it possible for automotive manufacturers to reduce the amount of paint used in the production of automobiles. Glazing solutions using GE’s Lexan resin with Exatec LLC technology can offer customers a 360-degree view of the world with integrated panoramic roofs and a lightweight response to glass windows. New HMD and HPPC technologies from GE could revolutionize how OEMs approach design, weight-out, and cost-out in body panels.

In exterior components, trims, and accessories, it is all about Signature Surfaces*. New material technologies being introduced include the latest grade of Noryl* BN9003G resin for blow-molding applications (i.e. spoilers); new Geloy* XTW resin for mirror housings, appliqués, trims, and grilles; Xenoy* X4000BM resin for running boards and step assists; Cycoloy* CP8930 resin, a new grade for exterior and interior door handles, running boards, wheel covers, grilles, roof racks, and trim components; and conductive Noryl GTX resin for tank flaps allowing on-line electrostatic painting.

In lighting GE Plastics’ Signature Surface* program introduces Lexan 4401R resin, which presents improvements in the balance of flow and heat resistance and it optimizes flow and heat for products that require direct metallization and high surface quality, while permitting faster cycle times and higher productivity, like f.e. bezels. Furthermore Ultem* XH6050 resin delivers extraordinarily high modulus and an outstanding heat resistance to 225 C. It also offers exceptional dimensional stability, strength and durability, and it is 100 percent recyclable using standard equipment.

In structures & interiors, safety is the key with GE’s latest Elastic Front* program. New Pedestrian Impact Protection materials and design innovations help automotive manufacturers and tier suppliers with the design of front-end safety systems made with Xenoy resins. In addition, a reinvigorated Instrument Panel (IP) portfolio at GE features several new high-performance Lexan and Cycoloy resins for significantly enhanced thin-wall design and weight-out capabilities including Occupant Safety solutions from GE’s newest Simple Safety* program.

GE's latest introduction in the underhood segment is the Life Coats* program with Flexible Noryl resin for wire coating, which would allow OEMs to shift away from the use of wire coating with traditional halogenated compounds used today. Using GE's resins for wire coating may also offer peace of mind to manufacturers and consumers knowing that their products are made with state-of-the-art technologies that help ensure improved performance.

“GE Plastics offers high-quality, high-tech products that can help Eastern European automotive manufacturers meet global consumer demand and address a broad range of issues critical to maintaining a competitive edge in the global automotive arena,” said Nico Egelman. “Only a select few materials suppliers can offer OEMs and tier-one customers the worldwide resources they need to effectively compete. GE is committed to providing the fast-growing Eastern European automotive industry with the innovative tools necessary to help develop the highest value application solutions all over the vehicle – under the hood, inside, and out.”

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