Minimalist auto dashboards from SHI Demag at K 2019

With developments in autonomous driving, connectivity and electro mobility (e-mobility), car interiors are changing fast. According to the latest research, the global automotive interiors market is anticipated to reach US$29.35 billion by 2025.  

 

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. 

 

Bulky dashboards are being replaced by more aesthetically-pleasing minimalist surfaces. Customizable controls are boosting comfort. Interior lighting, acoustic systems and sound insulation are being integrated into car surfaces. Molding 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,” notes Henrik Langwald, Business Development Director Automotive at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag.

 

At K 2019, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag will demonstrate its largest In Mold Decorating (IMD) display to date. The trailblazing, 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 tons, 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.

 

Mr. Langwald adds:  “As society moves towards more integrated touchscreen electronic components in vehicle interiors, injection molding machines need to adapt. All of the technological enhancements in the IntElect 500 are designed to give molders the tools, machine synchronization, mold safety and real-time production monitoring required for tomorrow’s automotive smart factories.” 

 

 

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.