Every year, Plastic innovations are highlighted at the SPE Innovation Awards. Dozens of teams made up of OEMs, tier suppliers, and polymer producers submit nominations describing their part, system, or complete vehicle and why it merits the claim as the Year’s Most Innovative Use of Plastics.
This year, Covestro was honored for its collaborative work in two categories.
– The first recognizes the company’s work around an electric vehicle grille which improves optical performance, featuring polycarbonate that is hardcoated and painted with a back-lit logo emblem. Using Makrolon®, an optical-quality clear polycarbonate, the 3D electric vehicle panel uses injection-compression molding to form its variable wall thickness throughout the entire part, aiding in stability.
– The second concerns the material being used in a Rear Control Lamp (RCL). The thick light guide is made using multi-shot, red, thick light blade meets legal stop and tail functions, and incorporates a homogenous appearance for rear lighting. Previously, RCLs like this have not been possible due to the large size, multi-shot and red transmission requirements. For its part, Covestro saw a need and, to meet the challenge, developed a new Makrolon® LED polycarbonate grade with proprietary red dyes and high clarity that has tighter color controls to make it possible to exceed safety standards.
Covestro LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance polymers in North America and is part of the global Covestro business, which is among the world’s largest polymer companies with 2020 sales of €10.7 billion. The main segments include the automotive industries. Covestro has 33 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 16,500 people at the end of 2020.
