M Covestro Automotive Solutions obilised
Covestro AG is creating a pull with its high-tech polymer materials. Prateek Pardeshi draws attention to the diverse automotive applications.
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olymers govern the automotive industry followed by various metals and alloys. Be it the bumper, headlights, mirrors, and so on in the exterior. In case of the interior, on the dashboard, instrument cluster, and so on and so forth. Covestro AG, a German company, leads the space with its range of high-tech polymers. The company offers a wide range of polyurethane and poly carbonate-based raw materials for the automotive industry among others. Divakar Gokhale, Head of Mobility, Indian Subcontinent at Covestro AG in an exclusive chat with Auto Components India mentions, “The classic automotive industry’s development further will define the future needs of such material technologies for such niche applications,” he opined. Experts in this product stream are always willing to get into a discussion with the industry players, informed Gokhale.
Interior applications
Digitalisation has taken over analog systems in the last decade. Infotainment systems are a testimony to this evolution. For example, the erstwhile transistor units have made room for sophisticated aircraft like cockpits complete with floating tabs or infotainment systems that today fire up the entire dash sans the
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dials and levers. Notably, these screens and displays are made of polycarbonate where Covestro AG excels. With entry level and mid-segment vehicles equipped with such displays, the opportunity to tap the segment is huge according to Gokhale. Covestro codevelop the solution with the OEMs or ODM depending on their wish-list and concepts. It provides tailor made solutions coming from our broad product portfolio of Polycarbonate (PC) and PC blends, together with speciality films and coatings that allow for diverse applications. Every new innovation comes with a huge R&D price, yet it has to be offered at an affordable price, Gokhale quipped. With the premium experience, multifunctionality, and efficiency improvement that it brings to the table, the lowered costs are directly linked to the input materials, he explained. Covestro is also linked across the value chain with some cutting-edge technology providers who can help bring many new ideas to life. Makrolon® PC and Makrofol® films are used in touch-panel technology for example. The application necessitates high purity, clarity, dimensional stability, scratch resistance, and a few other features. Such applications for auto interiors are easily possible with electronic integration.
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