Continental Structural Plastics, Inapal Components Reduce Weight, Complexity for New Luxury SUV in Europe
21.10.2020 14:30:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Inapal Plásticos, Continental Structural Plastics’ operations in Portugal, will be manufacturing a number of lightweight, low-density sheet molded compound (SMC) components for a premium luxury auto maker’s first SUV. These 11 components, ranging from under hood to underbody and Class A components, will reduce part complexity and overall vehicle weight.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201021005037/en/
Advanced composites allow for the molding of complex shapes to minimize parts, reducing weight and assembly complexity. (Photo: Business Wire)
By molding the complex radiator assembly frame in a low-density composite material, the OEM was able to minimize the number of parts required under the hood, significantly reducing assembly complexity and weight. Such parts are traditionally steel or aluminum and require multiple stamped components to be assembled to create the final product. Further, the SMC allows for the molding of complex shapes and deep draws, enabling CSP to create a finished assembly that fits the dramatic and distinctive styling of the vehicle.
The vehicle’s tailgate, molded in low-density, Class A SMC, is finished by CSP with a conductive primer before being shipped to the customer. This Class A SMC is e-coat oven capable, giving the customer the freedom to paint the tailgate in-house with the rest of the vehicle.
“Because this vehicle is the first SUV to be manufactured by this particular automaker, there are no direct comparisons to provide exact weight savings afforded by the use of low-density SMC,” said Orlando Rebelo, program manager at Inapal Plásticos. “But it is safe the say the weight savings will be significant and will contribute to the luxury performance customers will expect from this vehicle.”
The components will be manufactured at the CSP facilities in Leça, and Palmela, Portugal.
About Continental Structural Plastics
Continental Structural Plastics, a Teijin Group company, has provided leading-edge technologies in lightweight composite solutions for the automotive, heavy truck, HVAC and construction industries for 50 years. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, CSP provides full-service engineering support, and holds multiple patents covering materials development and manufacturing processes. The company has operations on three continents and more than 4,300 employees. For more information, visit cspplastics.com.
About the Teijin Group
Teijin (TSE: 3401) is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the fields of environmental value; safety, security and disaster mitigation; and demographic change and increased health consciousness. Originally established as Japan's first rayon manufacturer in 1918, Teijin has evolved into a unique enterprise encompassing three core business domains: high-performance materials including aramid, carbon fibers and composites, and also resin and plastic processing, films, polyester fibers and products converting; healthcare including pharmaceuticals and home healthcare equipment for bone/joint, respiratory and cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, nursing care and pre-symptomatic healthcare; and IT including B2B solutions for medical, corporate and public systems as well as packaged software and B2C online services for digital entertainment. Deeply committed to its stakeholders, as expressed in the brand statement “Human Chemistry, Human Solutions”, Teijin aims to be a company that supports the society of the future. The group comprises more than 170 companies and employs some 20,000 people across 20 countries worldwide. Teijin posted consolidated sales of JPY 853.7 billion (USD 8.0 billion) and total assets of JPY 1,004.2 billion (USD 9.4 billion) in the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2020. Please visit www.teijin.com.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201021005037/en/
Contact information
Kim Zitny
+1 248-535-6944
kim.zitny@cspplastics.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Motive Powers Latin America’s Next Wave of Mobile Innovation1.6.2026 18:00:00 EEST | Press release
Motive, a global leader in entitlement and connected device & service management, joined operators and industry leaders at M360 LATAM in Mexico City, showcasing live deployments across the region's most consequential use cases: Satellite Direct-to-Device connectivity for unreachable geographies, end-to-end eSIM provisioning and visibility at scale, and SIM-based silent authentication replacing fraud-exposed SMS OTP. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260531906729/en/ Across landmark deployments with multiple Claro, Vivo, and Entel operations, Motive’s Entitlement Server (Motive ES) has moved from infrastructure component to regional growth engine. These deployments are citing measurable commercial growth, enabling streamlined eSIM provisioning, improved device onboarding experiences, and new revenue opportunities tied to digital services and secure identity. Powered by Motive ES, Entel Chile became the first mobi
Interactive Brokers Integrates AI into Client Portfolios – Informed by Agentic Technology, Controlled by the Client1.6.2026 17:00:00 EEST | Press release
Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR), an automated global broker, today announced agentic trading through direct integration with Claude, one of the world's leading AI platforms. Available through the AI platform’s certified connector marketplace, the integration lets clients manage their accounts and access more than 170 global markets. "Interactive Brokers has used technology for over four decades to help investors make more informed decisions and interact more efficiently with markets," said Milan Galik, Chief Executive Officer of Interactive Brokers. "Investors are increasingly using artificial intelligence to research markets, analyze information and generate ideas. We believe the next logical step is to allow clients to securely connect AI tools directly to their brokerage accounts — whether they want a simple conversational interface, deeper portfolio analysis or the ability to develop and execute sophisticated trading strategies.” Clients can link their existing IBKR account thro
AIM Expands Life Sciences Supply Chain Capabilities and Hires New Partner, Thomas Ebel1.6.2026 16:01:00 EEST | Press release
AIM today announced the appointment of veteran pharma supply chain expert Thomas Ebel as Partner, effective June 15. Mr. Ebel brings more than 25 years of supply chain consulting experience at leading firms including CAMELOT, McKinsey, and Accenture, and will anchor a broader initiative to expand AIM’s end-to-end supply chain capabilities. According to Richard de Bakker, Statutory Director and Founder at AIM, the firm is significantly expanding its capabilities around “end-to-end” supply chain needs. “AIM is well known as a leader in supply chain development for launch, as well as optimization of existing supply chains — supporting clients in getting their finished products to patients,” said Mr. de Bakker. “We are now adding new capabilities in supply chain diagnostics and strategy, end-to-end planning optimization, supply reliability, and working capital optimization, among others. Combined with AIM’s established supply chain expertise, this expanded offering gives clients true ‘end-
Seoul Semiconductor's World-First 'HV Opto-Semiconductor' Powers Up Global Top 4 Automakers1.6.2026 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ: 046890), a global opto-semiconductor technology company, announced that its world's first High Voltage (HV) opto-semiconductor technology has entered mass production with four of the world's top automotive brands across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, with plans to expand supply to 10 models by the end of the year. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260601232986/en/ Comparison: Conventional 3V LED vs. Seoul Semiconductor 12V 'HV Opto-Semiconductor' (Figure: Seoul Semiconductor) The technology combines micro-scaled opto-semiconductor chips capable of 12V single-chip operation — as opposed to conventional 3V LEDs — with a high-voltage (HV) driver technology. This enables a reduction of more than 10% in the number of driver-related components used in hybrid and electric vehicles, while lowering power consumption by approximately 10%, contributing to cost reduction and simplific
Oscilloquartz delivers assured timing for mission-critical harsh environments with ruggedSync ™ Series OSA 55101.6.2026 15:00:00 EEST | Press release
Oscilloquartz today launched its ruggedSync™ Series OSA 5510, a ruggedized timing and synchronization platform engineered for defense and other harsh, mission-critical environments. Designed for deployment in tactical communications networks, mobile command centers (MCCs), aviation systems and other highly demanding operational environments, the OSA 5510 combines PTP grandmaster and NTP server functionality with synchronization assurance and resilient holdover in a compact MIL-qualified platform. Multi-band GNSS support, encrypted and authenticated timing options and environmental protection enable operation in contested and GNSS-denied environments where trusted synchronization must be maintained. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260601763766/en/ Oscilloquartz’s ruggedSync™ Series OSA 5510 delivers resilient, high-precision timing for mission-critical defense networks. “Our new ruggedSync™ Series OSA 5510 exte
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom