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
ANS Cuts IT Alert Noise by 83% with LogicMonitor Edwin AI4.11.2026 10:30:00 EET | Press release
LogicMonitor®, the AI-first platform for Autonomous IT, and ANS Group, a leading UK technology and managed services provider, today announced early results from ANS's deployment of Edwin AI, demonstrating how AI is helping reshape managed services by reducing routine operational work and creating more capacity for proactive customer value. Since deploying Edwin AI in August 2026, ANS has reduced alert noise by 83%, observability incident volumes by 45% and average incident resolution times by 44%, while reporting a 500% return on its incremental Edwin AI investment.* ANS has also consistently maintained SLA performance above 97%. By correlating related alerts, accelerating investigations and recommending next steps, Edwin AI is helping ANS shift engineering capacity from reactive incident management toward more proactive customer services. "AI gives us an opportunity to fundamentally rethink how managed services are delivered," said Kyle Hill, Chief Technology Officer, ANS Group. "Our
AiDEN Auto and Volvo Trucks First to Offer Embedded E-Transportation Regulatory Compliance Through the Infotainment System4.11.2026 10:00:00 EET | Press release
AiDEN Auto, a pioneer in connected vehicle software solutions, has partnered with Volvo Trucks to integrate RO e-Trans regulatory compliance management directly into the truck's in-cab infotainment system and the Volvo Connect back-office portal. Made available through Volvo Trucks' suite of digital services and Volvo Connect ecosystem, this innovative application allows drivers and fleet managers to monitor and maintain compliance with Romania's mandatory national e-Transport regulations in real time—without leaving the cab or relying on secondary mobile devices. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261104342472/en/ AiDEN Auto, a pioneer in connected vehicle software solutions, has partnered with Volvo Trucks to integrate RO e-Trans regulatory compliance management directly into the truck's in-cab infotainment system and the Volvo Connect back-office portal. Made available through Volvo Trucks' suite of digital se
LogicMonitor Makes AI the Standard, Not the Upgrade4.11.2026 10:00:00 EET | Press release
LogicMonitor®, the AI-first platform for Autonomous IT, today announced new platform packages that make Edwin AI and LogicMonitor Digital Experience, including Synthetics and Internet Sonar, standard in every tier. By bringing full digital experience and internet health visibility together with AI-driven operations in every package, LogicMonitor helps teams connect what users experience to the signals behind it and move toward a governed next step. AI is now essential to modern IT operations, yet too often, the capabilities needed to put it into practice remain fragmented across tools and licensing models. As enterprises move toward Autonomous IT, access to AI-driven intelligence and end-to-end visibility must become the foundation, not an added layer of complexity. “IT teams don't need more separate Observability tools with AI bolted on; they need a connected operating model,” said Garth Fort, chief product officer at LogicMonitor. “Every package now brings LogicMonitor Envision, Digi
Azerbaijan Signs its Participation Contract in Expo 2030 Riyadh4.11.2026 09:47:00 EET | Press release
The Republic of Azerbaijan has signed its Participation Contract in Expo 2030 Riyadh. The contract was signed by Talal Al-Marri, Chief Executive Officer of Expo 2030 Riyadh and H.E. Mr. Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, during a ceremony held in Baku, Azerbaijan. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261103050461/en/ The contract was signed by Talal Al-Marri, Chief Executive Officer of Expo 2030 Riyadh and H.E. Mr. Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, during a ceremony held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The signing marks an important milestone in Azerbaijan’s participation journey, allowing it to move from planning into delivery of its presence at Expo 2030 Riyadh. Holding the ceremony in Baku reflects the longstanding friendship between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as the importance Azerbaijan attaches to its
GN Corporation’s academic event NCRM NICHE commemorates 21 st anniversary of NCRM.4.11.2026 08:10:00 EET | Press release
The XXI edition of Fujio Cup Quiz (FCQ) in NCRM NICHE 2026, hosted by GN Corporation, Japan and Nichi-In centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM), was won by Sameer Kumar Reddy and Chava Aravind Kumar from Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Hyderabad, India. Ganga Anand Desai and Amith Mathew from Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India, came runners. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261103893272/en/ NCRM NICHE is held every year in October since 2006, past 21 years. In 2026, in the active knowledge gaining event, Fujio Cup Quiz, 80 teams from institutes of biotechnology, medicine, veterinary, dentistry and allied health sciences participated, among whom four got to the finals. Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India won the prestigious Fujio Cup. In the passive knowledge gaining event, Prof. Muralidhar Hegde, Houston Methodist Research Ins
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