The average car today has more than 1,000 plastic components and roughly 12% of them are made of soft PVC. The main uses include underbody coatings and sealants, wire harnesses, synthetic leather for seats, passenger compartment parts and small exterior trims and fittings. Vehicle manufacturers clearly recognize the performance at both low and high temperature, the design, weight and cost benefits of this material.
Not only that, as a manufacturer of the various parts and pieces, it’s imperative to recognize that each one has unique characteristics when it comes to printing on plasticized PVC in the automotive industry. At Griffin-Rutgers, we have solutions for printing and coding for each of the items you manufacture.
High performance plastics are playing an important role in the automotive industry these days. The light weight of plastics makes for more fuel-efficient vehicles. It is estimated that every 10% reduction in vehicle weight results in a 5% to 7% reduction in fuel usage. Current economic and environmental concerns make the creation of more fuel-efficient cars a top priority in the automotive industry.
Some other advantages of high performance plastics used in the automotive industry include:
- minimal corrosion, allowing for longer vehicle life
- substantial design freedom, allowing advanced creativity and innovation
- flexibility in integrating components
- safety, comfort and economy
- recyclability
The versatility of the material enables manufacturers to achieve exact shape, size, and texture specifications for many parts within the vehicle itself. Parts like:
- Cup Holders
- Door Handles
- Dashboard Components
- Knobs
- Center Console Components
- Indicator Parts
- Plastic Automotive Parts
- Automotive Electronics Plastics
- Door panels
- Arm rests
- Sun visors
Plasticized PVC plays a critical role in reducing injuries and enhancing the appearance of cars. PVC covers for airbags and dashboards, for example, cushion impact in accidents. Very often in luxury cars, the instrument panel is covered with a flexible PVC skin to look and feel like leather while retaining all the safety advantages of the polymer and offering increased resistance to scratches. Cars are also quieter now thanks to the sound-dampening properties of soft PVC.
Externally, soft plasticized PVC protects vulnerable areas such as doors from small impacts and scratches. It is found in body side protection strips, weather strips, and window sealing components.
The use of PVC is cost-effective, and environmentally sound. It helps to make vehicles more affordable. For the environment, the light-weight material helps to reduce the overall weight of any vehicle, which in turn, lowers wear and tear on the roads, and can decrease fuel consumption.
When it comes time to choose the right equipment for your printing and coding needs on plasticized PVC, ensuring you get the correct printer is where the expertise of Griffin-Rutgers is necessary. Give us a call, and we give you the expert advice you deserve.