GE raises roof on minivan
A
Sabic Innovative Plastics product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jan 13, 2006
GE Plastics announces collaboration with specialty-vehicle company ASC, showcasing the first results of a joint effort to give car buyers factory-installed options to suit their lifestyles.
At the North American International Auto Show, GE Plastics announced a collaboration with specialty-vehicle company ASC, showcasing the first results of a joint effort to give car buyers factory-installed options to suit their lifestyles.
ASC's bidirectional Infinivu open-air sliding-roof system, which is incorporated into a prototype minivan dubbed the ASC Trilite, uses GE's Lexan GLX polycarbonate resin for style, safety and weight savings.
This application marks the first time this technology has been showcased in a panoramic automotive roof system.
The technology's advantages include design flexibility to promote creativity and part consolidation, light weight to boost fuel economy, and impact resistance for occupant safety.
The collaboration provides ASC with innovations for its high-image specialty vehicles as well as its more mainstream vehicle systems, such as open-air roof systems.
"Our Infinivu bidirectional sliding-roof called for an exceptional plastic that could meet tough requirements for high performance and design freedom," said Paul Wilbur, ASC's President and CEO.
"The materials and support from GE are critical factors in the success of this design and others to come, which will give OEMs a new way to differentiate their vehicles and offer consumers new feature choices".
The roof panels are manufactured and coated with Exatec 900vt.
For the prototype vehicle, GE's Lexan GLX resin was vacuum-formed; however, in production, the resin will be injection-molded.
The coating protects against abrasion and scratches, as well as weatherability.
Lexan GLX resin can reduce part weight by about 50% for better fuel economy.
The American Plastics Council reports that for each 10% reduction in the weight of a car or truck, petrol mileage increases by 7%.
The Lexan resin can offer improved shatter resistance, which may help reduce risk of injury.
The resin also helps protect against break-ins.
The GE material is clear, giving vehicle occupants an unimpeded view of the sky or landscape even when the roof system is closed.
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