WINNER: Lightweight thermoplastic saves customer on cost
Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials
2021 - PACE Award Winner
WHAT: KyronMAX roof receivers
INNOVATION: By using its KyronMAX material solution on roof receivers, Mitsubishi Chemical was able to help its customer slash weight by approximately 80 percent while also cutting material costs by more than a third. The injection moldable thermoplastic serves as a substitute for metal in brackets, paneling, enclosures and aftermarket roof assemblies.
FIRST CUSTOMER: Stellantis
WEBSITE: mcam.com
KyronMAX roof receivers use a high-volume structural carbon fiber-reinforced injection-molded engineering thermoplastic composite in a weatherable structural body application.
The thermoplastic is a substitute for metal in brackets, paneling, enclosures and aftermarket roof assemblies.
Where previously polymer solutions lacked the strength, ductility, fiber loading and flexibility of metals, this innovation opens the automotive landscape to the use of carbon fiber-reinforced solutions to help lightweight vehicles. Mitsubishi Chemical’s material solution was able to help its customer slash weight by approximately 80 percent while also cutting material costs by more than a third.