At K 2019, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH will unveil
the future of minimalist modern car dashboards, making driving more comfortable for millions of motorists.
Photographer: Alexey Ryazanov dmindphoto - Fotolia
Future interior vehicle designs will offer drivers a greater sensory experience with fewer buttons and switches
Future interior vehicle designs will offer drivers a greater sensory experience with fewer buttons and switches
As a result of developments in autonomous driving, connectivity and e-mobility, car interiors are changing fast. According to the latest research, the global automotive interiors market is anticipated to reach $29.3bn (~€26.1) by 2025.
Bulky dashboards are being replaced by more aesthetically pleasing minimalist surfaces. Customisable controls are boosting comfort. Interior lighting, acoustic systems and sound insulation are being integrated into car surfaces. Moulding these high-tech interior components requires greater precision and process stability.
“Featuring fewer switches, these tactile panels create a more sensory experience for motorists. In the future, applications like this will reduce the number of components in a vehicle,” said Henrik Langwald, Business Development Director Automotive at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag.
At K 2019, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag will demonstrate its largest In Mould Decorating (IMD) display to date.
The as yet unseen, IMD touchfoil interactive decoration for a vehicle console will be produced on a brand new IntElect 500 being unveiled at the show.
Dynamic, precise and energy saving, the new IntElect series, now ranging up to 500 tonnes, features the company’s latest innovation in servo drives, enabling improved repeatability and shorter cycle times. The big tie bar spacing, increase in mould height and opening stroke means that the new IntElect models can
accommodate larger moulds. The result is a less energy-intensive machine for automotive applications that would previously have required a larger tonnage.
The IntElect 500 is designed to achieve extremely precise shot control, combined with improved platen stiffness for better production safety.
The IntElect’s optimised clamp force is a result of an innovative double centre press platen. Designed in-house by Sumitomo (SHI) Demag, it ensures equal surface pressure distribution. In addition to the high precision of the drive system, features like activeLock (an active closing non-return valve) or activeFlowBalance (ensuring even filling of multi-cavity moulds) can be used to achieve higher repeatability and precision.