Paris, March 9, 2016 --- Solvay, Renault Trucks and its partners have won the 2016 “JEC Innovation Award for Structural Parts in Automotive” using a thermoplastic composite material to build a front structural module of a truck, called the firewall. This new high performance composite material is based on Solvay Evolite® thermoplastic resin reinforced with continuous glass fiber.
The module weighs 25 percent less than a similar metal model, while the number of parts used to assemble was divided by two, thanks to the pooling of the partners’ innovations in design, materials and manufacturing.
Lightweighting materials increasingly replace metal parts or structures enabling airplane and automotive manufacturers to meet ever stricter regulations to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of their vehicles.
The award ceremony took place at the JEC World, the largest international convention of composites professionals, on March 8, 2016 in Paris. The award recognizes the excellent results of collaboration in innovation among five industrial companies, led by Solvay and Renault Trucks.
In less than four years, they designed, manufactured and validated this new composite module. Assembled on a truck, it was tested on front crash, vibration and durability, showing it could meet the industry’s strictest safety requirements.
“Solvay is very proud that its thermoplastic composites material has withstood the harsh testing conditions of the truck industry, proving the excellent performance of the Evolite®-based composite and increasing the role these composites can play in reducing CO2 emissions. I would like to congratulate and thank our partners for this highly impressive result acknowledged by JEC“, said Nicolas Cudre-Mauroux, Solvay’s Head of Corporate Research & Innovation. “The recent acquisition of Cytec will further boost Solvay’s comprehensive expertise in high performance materials.”
"This important recognition awarded by peers acknowledges Solvay's innovation excellence in the field of thermoplastic composites. Our team is very excited to offer the most advanced technologies and services to our customers to solve their most stringent lightweighting challenges." added Ludovic Odoni, Director of the Advanced Materials innovation platform.
Contacts:
Alan FLOWER - alan.flower@indmr.com +32 474 117 091
Rita HILLIG – rita.hillig@solvay.com +33 6 85 11 52 89
Follow us on twitter @SolvayGroup
Embed code
An international chemical and advanced materials company, Solvay assists its customers in innovating, developing and delivering high-value, sustainable products and solutions which consume less energy and reduce CO2emissions, optimize the use of resources and improve the quality of life. Solvay serves diversified global end markets, including automotive and aerospace, consumer goods and healthcare, energy and environment, electricity and electronics, building and construction as well as industrial applications. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with about 30,000 employees spread across 53 countries. It generated pro forma net sales of € 12.4 bn in 2015, with 90% made from activities where it ranks among the world’s top 3 players. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on Euronext in Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB:BB - Reuters: SOLB.BR).
