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
SuperElastic* Material Unveiled by Angelalign2.11.2026 19:46:00 EET | Press release
Angelalign Technology Inc. (6699.HK) (“Angel”)http://www.angelaligner.com, a global clear aligner leader, today unveiled SuperElastic (MC-SE*), a new propietary aligner material that is a significant breakthrough in performance over its current material. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261102654659/en/ Specialists in orthodontics have long asked for new aligner materials that enable better treatment for complex cases: biologically safe force levels, a large elastic working range, and strength and toughness. MC-SE* provides all of them. “Angel is commited to innovation and never settling for 'good enough'. MC-SE* is the result of seven years of materials research, testing and manufacturing optimization. The new material aims to create a new generation of aligner material that allows orthodonists to differentiate their treatment from other treatments,“ said Fox Hu, CEO of Angel. MC-SE will be available globally
Galderma Announces Proposed Board Appointments and Chief Financial Officer Transition2.11.2026 19:00:00 EET | Press release
Galderma Group AG (SIX:GALD), the pure-play dermatology category leader, today announced proposed changes to its Board of Directors, aimed at further strengthening its governance and supporting its long-term growth. The company also announced that Luigi La Corte, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), has decided to leave Galderma to pursue a significant new opportunity. Luigi La Corte will continue to fulfil his responsibilities as CFO during the transition period, supporting business continuity and a smooth handover. The company will communicate further details regarding succession arrangements and the transition timeline in due course. The Board of Directors is proposing the election of Rosalind Brewer and Petra Rumpf as new Board members. Both candidates bring extensive leadership and governance experience, alongside expertise spanning consumer-facing businesses, healthcare, medtech and life sciences. As Galderma advances its ambition to become the undisputed dermatology powerhouse, spanni
Donaldson Introduces Alpha-Pore™ Technology Platform for Extended Sterile Filtration Performance2.11.2026 16:35:00 EET | Press release
Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), a leading worldwide manufacturer of innovative filtration products and solutions, today announced Alpha‑Pore™ technology, a next generation sterile filtration platform engineered to extend filter service life while maintaining critical process performance. Built for critical applications, Alpha‑Pore technology enables longer filter run time compared with competitive single- and dual-layer polyethersulfone (PES) membrane filters, while maintaining flow characteristics, sterility assurance, and process integrity.* The platform is designed to help manufacturers improve operational efficiency through fewer changeouts and more consistent performance over time. Engineered for Extended Performance Sterile filtration processes often require balancing run time with key performance parameters such as flow, differential pressure, and contaminant retention. Alpha‑Pore technology is designed to achieve all three. By optimizing pore structure and filter architect
Smartly Launches Intelligence Pro to Connect Campaign Planning, Performance and Incrementality2.11.2026 16:00:00 EET | Press release
Smartly, the AI-powered advertising technology company, today launched Intelligence Pro, a premium offering that brings together four capabilities to help marketers plan investment, understand true incrementality and determine where to spend their next dollar. Intelligence Pro connects causal inference models with planning tools to help marketers prove business impact and make faster decisions from increasingly complex data. “Marketing teams are inundated with data, but the challenge is identifying what signals are useful and turning them into a decision they can act on,” said Maxwell Tang, Chief Product Officer at Smartly. “Intelligence Pro brings forecasting, market context and state-of-the-art incrementality signals together to help marketers assess where to invest and what their media is contributing. As AI accelerates campaign execution, the quality of each decision matters more.” Intelligence Pro combines four capabilities within Smartly’s platform: Reach Planner helps teams comp
SBC Medical Forms Capital and Business Alliance with AtomicSoftware, Provider of the medicalforce Clinic Management Platform Used by 800+ Clinics in Japan2.11.2026 16:00:00 EET | Press release
SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (Nasdaq: SBC) (“The Company” or “SBC Medical”), a Medical Services Organization (MSO) providing management support across a wide range of healthcare fields, today announced that it entered into a capital and business alliance agreement on October 26, 2026, with AtomicSoftware Inc. (“AtomicSoftware”), the Tokyo-based provider of medicalforce, an all-in-one software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform for clinics. In connection with the alliance, SBC Medical has invested ¥600 million (approximately US$3.8 million) in AtomicSoftware’s Series C funding round. The two companies will co-develop AI features, beginning with a feature that supports physicians in preparing medical records. Key Highlights Proven platform: medicalforce is used by more than 800 clinics*1 in Japan, primarily self-pay clinics, with a clinic retention rate of 99.2%*2. Joint AI development: Features co-developed by the two companies will enhance medicalforce and be progressively incorpo
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