Engineered Polyolefins for the Mobility Evolution
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SPE Automotive TPO® 2023 Global Automotive Conference - Conference Proceedings
SPE Automotive TPO® 2023
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Engineered Polyolefins for the Mobility Evolution
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Overview:
Dr. Nischay is an R&D Chemist at Mitsubishi Chemical America (MCA) responsible for the product development function of TPV and TPE materials for automotive and building and construction applications. Prior to joining MCA, he received his Ph.D. degree in Plastics Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell His areas of expertise include polymer formulation development, elastomer technology, surface engineering for tailored wettability and advanced polymer processing.
Overview:
Prof. Amar Mohanty is a Distinguished Research Chair in Sustainable Biomaterials at the Ontario Agriculture College and the Director of the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre. He is a Professor in both the Department of Plant Agriculture and School of Engineering at the University of Guelph, Canada. Dr. Mohanty is the Editor-in-Chief in Sustainable Composites of Composites Part C (ELSEVIER). He is one of the most cited researchers worldwide with more than 850 publications to his credit, including 450 peer-reviewed journal papers, 71 patents (awarded/applied). His Google-Scholar citations count is 49,169 with h-index 100 (March 25, 2023). He has received many awards, one recent one being the prestigious Miroslaw Romanowski Medal for his significant scientific contributions to the resolution of environmental problems from the Royal Society of Canada. He also received Andrew Chase Forest Products Division Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the BioEnvironmental Polymer Society (BEPS), USA. He is a fellow of American Institute of Chemical Engineer (AIChE), Society of Plastic Engineer (SPE), the Royal Society of Canada (RSC-Canada) and Royal Society of Chemistry (UK).
Overview:
David Nix is the president and owner of Green Group Consulting and Green Group Reprocessing. In his 33-year career in the plastics industry, he has focused on polypropylene and recycling. He began his professional life working for two of the largest polyolefin producers in the world, LyondellBasell (Himont/Montell) and Braskem (Epsilon/Sunoco). In his 18 years with these corporations, he held positions in sales, marketing, product development, product management, production, asset management, sustainability, and recycling.
After building experience in the plastic industry, David ventured out by starting a small recycling business and contracting with various privately owned companies. His expertise and skill set helped him develop a large customer base that routinely relied on his technical knowledge. A pivotal role in David’s career was with Braskem as the Sustainability and Recycling Leader for the United States. He relished the opportunity to create recycling programs for a large corporation that could begin to make big impacts in the use of recycled resin.
Continuing his vision for greater recycled resin usage and positively impacting the world, David and his son Harrison Nix started Green Group Consulting– a consulting business that interfaces with all aspects of the plastics value chain. They work with MRF’s, collectors, equipment manufacturers, additive producers, reprocessors, compounders, converters, investors and brand owners.
Carrying on their commitment to recycling, David and Harrison recently bought a postconsumer polypropylene recycling business in Albert Lea, Minnesota and renamed it Green Group Reprocessing. The homopolymer PCR product they make is unmatched in the industry. They use a reverse logistics collection system and maintain a proprietary wash system that produces consistently high-quality resin. They have improved production and are adding capacity with new equipment installations.
David holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte.
Overview:
Tasks for IAC:
Development of sustainable materials & products, testing and rating on potential
to reduce:
GWP potential, CO2 emissions and resource conservation
Calculation of Life Cycle Assesments for interior products
Validation of sustainability related developments.
Susan holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Detroit with an emphasis in polymers. She has over 37 years experience in plastics and adhesives technologies in both the aerospace and automotive industries. She worked for Textron Aerospace Division in advanced composite design for turbine engine components and in other advanced research and development functions. Susan joined Ford Motor Company and provided materials engineering expertise for electronics systems, interior systems, climate control systems and lighting systems. She then worked for Visteon Corporation as a Materials Engineering Manager in the Advance Materials and Joining Technologies Department. Her responsibilities included all polymeric materials across Visteon products, material recycling and reuse, End of Life Vehicle (ELV) considerations and material sustainability as well as joining technologies for all systems within Visteon.
Susan currently works at International Automotive Components (IAC Group) as Director of Advanced Materials Engineering. She continues to work in the area of recycling and sustainability for all products across IAC and applies her expertise in polymers and adhesives in product design and development. She also functions as the Sustainability champion for the IAC Troy Campus.
Susan is former Division Chair and Conference Chair for the Society of Plastics Engineers Sustainability Division. For the last several years she served as a session co-chair for the Sustainable Materials track for the SPE Automotive TPO conference.
Susan has authored several publications relating to plastics & recycling and holds 3 patents.
Overview:
Tasks for IAC:
Development of sustainable materials & products, testing and rating on potential
to reduce:
GWP potential, CO2 emissions and resource conservation
Calculation of Life Cycle Assesments for interior products
Validation of sustainability related developments.
Dr. Manjusri Misra is a professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Sustainable Biocomposites in the School of Engineering and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. As well, she is the Research Program Director of the Bioeconomy Panel for the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a program between the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the University of Guelph. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE).
Misra’s current research focuses primarily on novel biobased composites and nanocomposites that can take the place of conventional plastics in many commercial applications, from auto parts to packaging. She specializes in the development of advanced polymeric materials from sustainable resources, recycled materials, and waste-streams to reduce landfilling, ocean pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, supporting Circular Economy.
She has authored more than 800 publications, including 450 peer-reviewed journal papers, 30 book chapters, and 55 patents. Her Google-Scholar citations count is 47,400 and h-index 96 (June 27, 2023). She was the President of the BioEnvironmental Polymer Society (BEPS) in 2009. She serves on the editorial boards of “Journal of Applied Polymer Science”, “Composites Part A: Science and Manufacturing”, “Polymer Testing”, “Macromolecular Materials and Engineering”, "ACS Omega", and “Composites Part C: Open Access”. Dr. Misra has received many awards including the Andrew Chase Forest Products Division Award from the AIChE and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the BioEnvironmental Polymer Society (BEPS). In 2020, she was selected as one of Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winner in the Manulife Science and Technology category from the Women Executive Network.
Natural Fiber Polypropylene (NFPP) is a nonwoven product partially comprised of renewable resources that is used to provide a mass savings to automotive interior trim components. The manufacturing process used to form these interior trim components produces a large volume of offal which increases their cost, while negatively impacting the environment. This talk will provide insight on how this high-value offal can be recovered and reused. Finally, an overview is provided of our InLite™ product offerings, with a focus on providing a cost-effective approach to mass savings.
Tom Sybrandy is a Senior Project Engineer working in the Advanced Development Group at Inteva Products
He is responsible for developing technologies and processes that offer unique cost-effective solution lightweight constructions for automotive interior trim applications. His current work is focused on nonwoven constructions, product recyclability, and perforation technologies for Class A Surfaces.
Tom is graduate of Ferris State University with a bachelor’s Product Design Engineering Technology and an associate in CAD/Drafting Tool Design. Prior to joining Inteva Products, Tom held positions throughout the Injection Molding Industry in both Tool Design and Program Management.
Peter Hawighorst is a project manager at the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) program. Before joining ISCC, he studied agricultural sciences at the University of Bonn and received a Ph.D. in forest sciences from the University of Goettingen. Afterwards he worked as a scientific coordinator at the Büsgen-Institut of the University of Goettingen. Peter was part of the team that developed the ISCC PLUS approach and since then is supporting companies with the implementation of ISCC PLUS within supply chains in the chemical industry.
Kevin Lyons is a Senior Material Development Engineer at Inteva Products. For the past 10 years, he has been responsible for developing new materials, products and processes that offer performance and/or manufacturing benefits. He uses his polymer knowledge to formulate novel thermoplastic olefin (TPO) resin blends and combines these with supporting technologies to deliver unique product offerings to the automotive industry. His current work is focused on TPO artificial leathers, textiles, product recyclability, process optimization, and multi-functional surface technology (smart surfaces, non-score). Prior to Inteva Products, he worked on studying the kinetics of carbon nanotube growth and the preparation, conversion, characterization, and mechanical testing of polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers reinforced with carbon nanotubes.
Kevin holds a B.S degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and a M.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Kevin George is a Field Development Engineer at GEON Performance Solutions with close to 10 years of experience helping identify materials for automotive specializing in interiors. Kevin uses that experience to assist GEON’s internal R&D teams in developing products that fully meet the customer’s performance requirements.
Junhua Zhang holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry and Physics from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Bejing (2012). In 2012, she joined SABIC in Shanghai, China and relocated to the Netherlands in 2014. Currently, she works as a Senior Scientist for Polyolefin Compounds in SABIC's Global Technology and Innovation Department. Junhua's main research interests are in the area of polymer blends and compounds, and their structure-properties relationship. Her current work is centered around polypropylene compounds with focus on recycling, flame retardancy and foaming. She has co-authored 11 publications and filed 13 patents.
Enabling the Mobility industry to incorporate in the design of products technologies that are more sustainable to produce, use and retire.
Applying sustainability leadership in Climate protection, Circular economy, and Safer materials to the vehicle's Life Cycle: Design, Production, Use, End-of-life.
Lisa Madenjian is a TS&D Fellow and Global Application Technology Leader for Consumer Markets in Dow’s Packaging and Specialty Plastics business. She has 33 years of experience at Dow and specializes in R&D/TS&D, Engineering Plastics to Polypropylene to Elastomers Material, Formulation, Application and Market Development and New Business Development. Her primary areas of focus are new market development for durable applications (rotomolding, adhesives, golf balls, footwear, photovoltaics) and sustainability (value proposition development for Infrastructure, Consumer and Transportation). She has an MS in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a BA in Chemistry and Politics from Cornell College.
Carbon Negative Bio-Polypropylene: From Corn to Ethanol to Ethylene to Propylene to Polypropylene.
Megan Krampe is a results driven professional with a strong track record for identifying innovative solutions. After completing a degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University, Megan began her career at Mitsui Plastics, Inc. where she marketed SIS and C5 resins for tape and label production. In 2022 Megan joined the development team within Mitsui Plastics where she focuses on identifying and bringing new sustainable solutions such as carbon sequestering bio-based polypropylene to the automotive market. When not working, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and two cats.
The presentation is about how to improve the performance of TPOs in automotive applications using additive technologies. The following are technologies that were studied with positive results:
Mike Dolgovskij first worked with polymers during an undergraduate intern experience at Bayer in Pittsburgh, PA. This initial work with polymers inspired him to study under Professor Chris Macosko at the University of Minnesota, where he graduated with a PhD in Chemical Engineering in 2007. Following graduation, Mike worked in Dow’s Core R&D group where he supported projects in PE and TPU. Mike then worked as a TS&D engineer for Kuraray America, supporting customers in creating multilayer structures with EVAL ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer for over 11 years. In early 2022, Mike joined SI Group as Sr. Technical Service Manager for Plastics Solutions where he supports customers in the Americas and Europe to improve their products with SI Group’s innovative portfolio of polymer additives.
Kichi Yuno has worked at ADEKA CORPORATION for over a decade, starting as an R&D Engineer in the Additive R&D department from January 2010 to November 2016. They then moved to the Additive solution department and served as the Technical & Marketing Manager of Japan/Southeast Asia/Oceania from December 2016 to March 2020. From April 2020 to present, they have been serving as the Technical & Marketing Manager of Japan/US and Technical Service Leader in the same department.
He has a strong educational background in engineering and materials science. They completed their undergraduate degree in Material Science from Kyusyu University in 2008. They then pursued their graduate degree in Materials from the Graduate School of Engineering at Kyusyu University from 2009 to 2010.
Inteva is a global automotive supplier that offers a large portfolio of advanced technologies that are aligned with the EV consumer. Their unique combination of material and process expertise provides a winning solution. In this fast and changing environment, Inteva is setting the pace with new offerings. Inteva’s approach combines the best of interior trim with new electronic innovation.
Ken Gassman is the Global Director of Advanced Development for Inteva Products, leading a global multi-team organization focused on innovation in all product areas including Interiors, Closures, and Motors and Electronics. Ken is also the Platform Director of the Inteather™ and InStitch™ product offerings with responsibilities for commercial, technical, and launch activities on Inteva's two newest innovations developed within the organization. In both roles, Ken has ownership of developing and implementing key strategies within all product areas, with the goal of positioning Inteva as a global Tier One innovation leader.
Ken has a passion for development and the advancement of product, material, and process technologies in the automotive industry. He holds several patents within numerous product lines and has been a key contributor in the commercialization of many of Inteva's key technologies and product offerings over the past 23 years.
Ken has held a variety of leadership roles including Pursuit Manager for New Business, Product Engineering Manager, Operations Manager, and Development Director. He also has experience in several product areas including seating, safety, interior trim, door hardware, power products, motors, and electronics. He earned three degrees from Wayne State University: Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a Master of Science in Engineering.
Ken has been a supporter of the Society of Plastics Engineers for his entire career and actively participates in the yearly TPO Global Conference. Inteva is a key champion of this conference and helped initiate it over 25 years ago.
Inteva is a global automotive supplier that offers a large portfolio of advanced technologies that are aligned with the EV consumer. Their unique combination of material and process expertise provides a winning solution. In this fast and changing environment, Inteva is setting the pace with new offerings. Inteva’s approach combines the best of interior trim with new electronic innovation.
Greg is the Director of research and development for CpK Interior products and has been with the company for 10 years. In addition to R&D, Greg is also site responsible for CpK's plastics compounding division. During his tenure at CpK, Greg has had over 25 patent applications and has brought many new inventions, technologies, and materials to market that can be found in a variety of Stellantis vehicles.
Inteva is a global automotive supplier that offers a large portfolio of advanced technologies that are aligned with the EV consumer. Their unique combination of material and process expertise provides a winning solution. In this fast and changing environment, Inteva is setting the pace with new offerings. Inteva’s approach combines the best of interior trim with new electronic innovation.
Jeremy Husic has over 25 years working in the auto industry. After graduating from Kettering University with electrical & mechanical engineering degrees, he started at Delphi Automotive. He later moved to in-mold electronics start-ups and finally Inteva Products. His career has taken him from structural analysis to mechatronics to in-mold & embedded electronics. He is credited with four patents with a few more in the works. Jeremy is currently a staff engineer focused on integrating electronics into automotive trim and supporting electronics within Inteva. He is a member of a team that started down the path of Smart Automotive Surfaces a few years ago. Since then, Inteva has developed a strong portfolio of Soft Smart Surface products for automotive trim.
David Whitehead is a Senior Project Engineer at Inteva Products LLC, where he has been working since March 2008. He has over 15 years of experience in the field of engineering. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University.
As sales and program director for MATERI'ACT in North America, James Leo Mazurek is directly responsible for the business development and deployment of sustainable materials in North America. In his 12 years with FORVIA, Leo has held roles within engineering, operations, and purchasing. Leo is currently located in Sunnyvale, CA.
As Sustainable Feedstock and Recyling Manager, Akim Khalef is directly responsible for the creation and development of feedstock supply and value chain for FORVIA's new sustainable materials entity, Materi'Act. In his 6 years with FORVIA, Akim has held a number of purchasing roles within the US, Czech Republic, and Japan. He previously worked in the medical industry for bioMerieux in France. Akim is currently located in Auburn Hills, MI.
He holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Lille and a Master's Degree in Strategic Procurement Management from Grenoble IAE.
Inteva is a global automotive supplier that offers a large portfolio of advanced technologies that are aligned with the EV consumer. Their unique combination of material and process expertise provides a winning solution. In this fast and changing environment, Inteva is setting the pace with new offerings. Inteva’s approach combines the best of interior trim with new electronic innovation.
Greg is the Director of research and development for CpK Interior products and has been with the company for 10 years. In addition to R&D, Greg is also site responsible for CpK's plastics compounding division. During his tenure at CpK, Greg has had over 25 patent applications and has brought many new inventions, technologies, and materials to market that can be found in a variety of Stellantis vehicles.
Antimicrobial technology is used to inhibit the growth of microorganisms that cause stains, odors, and harmful product impacts. Common active ingredients include silver, zinc, and organics. Microban’s current antimicrobial portfolio includes more than 25 technologies.
Molds and mildew are problematic in the automotive industry because they impair physical appearance, weaken structure and compromise integrity, cause odors, and cause staining.
Antimicrobials protect materials, but accurate evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy is challenging. Antimicrobials can prevent degradation such as optical, physical, and electrical.
Current antifungal test methods used for semi-absorbent substrates are qualitative test methods that were developed for other substrates. Modifications can be made to appropriately assess antimicrobial efficacy on semi-absorbers but it can introduce some challenges such as inoculation, incubation, scoring, lab reproducibility, and increased variation. Microban has been researching a possible alternative to qualitative assessment by using antibacterial quantitative test methods as a backbone. This approach has increased reproducibility and provides more informative assessment.
Many qualitative test methods continue to be modified to accommodate the continuously changing markets, but many uses fall outside the original intended scope of these methods. To accommodate newer and more complex materials and newer technologies these older methods will need to be modified extensively to achieve adequate performance evaluation. Quantitative methods could be a beneficial alternative in the future to assess antifungal and anti-staining performance. Microban is continuing to explore these testing avenues and research to date has been very promising.
Dr. Ha is a Senior Product Development Engineer at Microban International. She has been a key engineer in customer-focused projects and new product development. Her knowledge of incorporated polymeric products brings a unique skill set to Microban partners. She obtained her B.S. degree in Polymeric Material Engineering from Polytechnique University in Vietnam and has been working with polymers since 2002. In 2006, she received her M.Sc. degree from the University of Oklahoma after working with emulsions and emulsion polymerization. Subsequently, she moved to the University of Houston and obtained her Ph.D. in nanocomposites and polymer blends. Since 2011, she has been working with Microban to make the world a cleaner place.
Antimicrobial technology is used to inhibit the growth of microorganisms that cause stains, odors, and harmful product impacts. Common active ingredients include silver, zinc, and organics. Microban’s current antimicrobial portfolio includes more than 25 technologies.
Molds and mildew are problematic in the automotive industry because they impair physical appearance, weaken structure and compromise integrity, cause odors, and cause staining.
Antimicrobials protect materials, but accurate evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy is challenging. Antimicrobials can prevent degradation such as optical, physical, and electrical.
Current antifungal test methods used for semi-absorbent substrates are qualitative test methods that were developed for other substrates. Modifications can be made to appropriately assess antimicrobial efficacy on semi-absorbers but it can introduce some challenges such as inoculation, incubation, scoring, lab reproducibility, and increased variation. Microban has been researching a possible alternative to qualitative assessment by using antibacterial quantitative test methods as a backbone. This approach has increased reproducibility and provides more informative assessment.
Many qualitative test methods continue to be modified to accommodate the continuously changing markets, but many uses fall outside the original intended scope of these methods. To accommodate newer and more complex materials and newer technologies these older methods will need to be modified extensively to achieve adequate performance evaluation. Quantitative methods could be a beneficial alternative in the future to assess antifungal and anti-staining performance. Microban is continuing to explore these testing avenues and research to date has been very promising.
Dr. Ha is a Senior Product Development Engineer at Microban International. She has been a key engineer in customer-focused projects and new product development. Her knowledge of incorporated polymeric products brings a unique skill set to Microban partners. She obtained her B.S. degree in Polymeric Material Engineering from Polytechnique University in Vietnam and has been working with polymers since 2002. In 2006, she received her M.Sc. degree from the University of Oklahoma after working with emulsions and emulsion polymerization. Subsequently, she moved to the University of Houston and obtained her Ph.D. in nanocomposites and polymer blends. Since 2011, she has been working with Microban to make the world a cleaner place.
Sirmax is a company that produces recycled materials using an integrated process that involves post-consumer r-PP production and green compounds. The company aims to maximize the PCR content on PPT5 for interiors, which offers benefits such as improved impact performances, aesthetic, odor and emission, as well as sustainability and availability. One of the potential applications of Sirmax’s recycled materials is the door panel, which can reduce the environmental impact and enhance the quality of the product. Sirmax’s innovative process and products demonstrate its commitment to circular economy and customer satisfaction.
Mr. Luca Gazzola holds BS and MSc degree in Industrial Chemistry from University of Padua (Italy). He has experience in compounds formulation and compounding process.
In 2010, joined Sirmax Company in Cittadella, Northern Italy. Initially in core R&D, he worked on development of compounds based on polyolefins or engineering polymers for the automotive, electrical and appliance market.
Luca covered the position of R&D Polyolefins Manager at Sirmax from 2015 to 2020 and today he's responsible of the Polyolefins and Engineering polymers Innovation team focused on providing answers to the most challenging market trends including sustainability in plastic materials.
Christopher Engel is an Advanced R&D Engineer at Avient Corporation. With 20+ years in the industry, Christopher is responsible for developing new TPE formulations for commercial, industrial, automotive, and medical markets. Christopher graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science from ITT Technical Institute with the highest honors in Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
Turner Slaughter has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering with a Life Sciences emphasis and a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics, both from Western Michigan University. He is now a Research and Development Engineer in the plastics industry working for Sekisui Voltek. Before his career in the plastics industry, he worked as a process engineer in the paper industry for a company that converted post-consumer cardboard materials into new and desirable products. Now he is exploring using post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials to make foams for the automotive industry and beyond that will help these industries to meet their sustainability goals.
SABIC is a global leader in producing innovative materials that help reduce the CO2 footprint of various industries. One of its solutions is the foam injection molding (FIM) and core back process, which uses SABIC® PP compounds to create aesthetic and lightweight parts with enhanced mechanical performance. In this presentation, we will show how SABIC has developed a method to predict the mechanical behavior of core back foamed parts, and validated it at different levels: sample, prototype, and part. We will also demonstrate the lightweighting potential and the improved functionality of core back FIM by presenting two case studies: a lower tailgate trim and a side door panel. The key takeaways are that SABIC’s FIM and core back process can offer significant benefits in terms of sustainability, cost-efficiency, and design flexibility.
Anil is a Gold Medalist in Master of Engineering in mechanical from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. His primary expertise is in application development, structural design, engineering & manufacturability using thermoplastics and hybrid materials for light weighting, performance enhancement and part integration. Currently, Anil is part of Global Application Technology group and he is focusing on development of thermoplastic material solutions for automotive including EV batteries and other segments such as foam and lightweight for packaging application. He holds 15+ U.S. patents and has co-authored more than five publications in reputed international conferences.
Brent Landis is a Product Manager for the Automotive market in the Americas for H.B. Fuller. He has been with the company for over 24 years in various roles starting in operations where he began as a process engineer and later spent time as a production manager. In these positions he gained a great appreciation for the importance of process optimization for production efficiency. He moved into product management 10 years ago and began work in the Automotive Interior Trim segment in 2020.
Rick Snyder is the North American Automotive R&D laboratory Manager for H.B. Fuller. Throughout his 35 plus year career, Rick has focused on product development of adhesives, sealants and coatings for the automotive industry. He describes himself as problem solver with an emphasis on creating win-win solutions. Rick is from Toledo, Ohio, a graduate of Adrian College and currently resides in the Greater Detroit Metro area.
Kevin George is a Field Development Engineer at GEON Performance Solutions with close to 10 years of experience helping identify materials for automotive specializing in interiors. Kevin uses that experience to assist GEON’s internal R&D teams in developing products that fully meet the customer’s performance requirements.
Tra Goss has been in the Plastics Industry since 1993 and has worked in Research and Development, Material Engineering, Technical Services, Account Management and Business Development. At GEON Performance Solutions he is a Business Development Manager who is responsible for the relationships between GEON and the Original Equipment Manufacturers. He is very passionate about working within teams to accomplish common goals and objectives and looks forward to each new challenge.
SABIC’s next-generation SGF-PP compounds represent a significant advancement in composite materials, designed to address the challenges of intricate part filling and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing. These compounds boast an enhanced balance of properties, including high stiffness and impact resistance, coupled with exceptional flow characteristics. This makes them an ideal choice for applications that demand both precision and durability. Moreover, their superior mechanical properties make them a more favorable alternative to certain engineering resins, offering potential weight and cost savings without compromising on performance.
Tariq Syed, a Staff Scientist and a product developer at SABIC a fortune 500 company, joined SABIC in 2010. Received his MSc in Chemical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT, Chicago-IL). He has experience in polymer industries from automotive to rocketry. Expertise in polymer physics, mechanics, structural properties and polymer conversion technologies. Today, he serves as the lead on several developments, characterization, testing of new products, involving automotive interior and exterior applications.
Dr. Saied Kochesfahani is a S enior S cientist for Plastics & Rubber applications at IMERYS Performance Mineral Science Technology center located in Atlanta, Georgia . He has 22 years of R&D and business development experience working with a wide range of minerals in plastics, rubber, and flame retardant applications. Saied's current focus is on developing new mineral solutions for improved mechanicals, thermal, rheogical, aethetics, sustainability and flame retardant performance for various markets including Automtoive, E&E and B uiling & Const ruction applications.
Saied holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toroto, has been an active member of SPE and a frequent presenter at SPE conferences since 2006.
Christopher Oberste is the President and Chief Engineer of WEAV3D Inc. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Bachelor of Polymer and Fiber Engineering from Auburn University. Christopher focused his Ph.D. thesis on developing novel, low-cost composite manufacturing processes, including the WEAV3D composite forming technology, and founded WEAV3D as a spin out from Georgia Tech in 2017. He is named as the lead inventor on five issued patents and three patent applications related to the WEAV3D technology.
Piergiovanni Ercoli Malacari is a product and application development engineer at IMI Fabi SpA, a leading company in the production of talc. He has over 30 years of experience in the field of thermoplastic materials, having worked in various roles in production, research, and development. He has expertise in compounding, extrusion, tubing, and recycling of plastics, as well as in modifying and applying thermoplastics with IMI Fabi talc. He has authored several technical papers on the use of talc in polymers. He holds a degree in chemical engineering from Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
Kazuhisa Takagi has joined Asahi Kasei in 2014 and has been engaged in global sales and marketing of chemical products.
He is currently in charge of sales and marketing of hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer products (TPS) in the global market, with particular responsibility for automotive applications.
In this presentation, we will cover various aspects of the EV battery pack design and how SABIC can provide solutions to meet the challenges and opportunities in this field. We will start with a brief introduction of SABIC and its vision, mission, and values. Then, we will discuss the electrification solution development process and how we can collaborate with our customers and partners to create innovative and sustainable products. Next, we will focus on the design for structural performance, flame retardancy, and manufacturability of the EV battery pack components, especially the thermoformed cover solutions. We will also explain the material development and consideration, thermoforming considerations, sheet extrusion, and material properties that are relevant for this application. Finally, we will show you some prototype parts that we have developed and tested, and share the learnings and key takeaways from this project. For more information, please refer to the Design Guidelines in SABIC Brand Space.
Petya Yaneva has more than 10 years in the area of Polymer Science and technology. She obtained MSc in Biobased Materials from Maastricht University in The Netherlands and MSc in Polymer Science and Engineering from Bulgaria. For the past five years, as part of SABIC, she has been providing material development and compounding expertise for automotive and non-automotive applications in many projects focused on lightweight solutions and fiber reinforced materials. In his current role as a Senior Manager with SABIC’s Global PO Compound and STAMAX team, she is leading programs linked fiber reinforced materials and supporting different application developments for customers.
Polymer chemist having worked over 25 years with additives to enhance either stability properties of polymers or their applications performance.
Worked as technical, marketing and sales manager with Ciba Specialty Chemicals. Product Manager for specialty additives at BASF and for intermediates at SI Group, and now with Rianlon as sales account manager for thermal and light stabilizers.
In this presentation, we will explore how stabilizers play a vital role in the mechanical recycling of polypropylene (PP), one of the most widely used plastics in the world. We will also highlight how SONGWON, a global leader in polymer additives, contributes to sustainability by developing innovative and efficient stabilizer solutions for recycled PP.
Petya Yaneva has more than 10 years in the area of Polymer Science and technology. She obtained MSc in Biobased Materials from Maastricht University in The Netherlands and MSc in Polymer Science and Engineering from Bulgaria. For the past five years, as part of SABIC, she has been providing material development and compounding expertise for automotive and non-automotive applications in many projects focused on lightweight solutions and fiber reinforced materials. In his current role as a Senior Manager with SABIC’s Global PO Compound and STAMAX team, she is leading programs linked fiber reinforced materials and supporting different application developments for customers.
Polypropylene (PP) is a widely used thermoplastic polymer with many applications in various industries. However, PP has low melt strength, which limits its processing and performance. To overcome this challenge, ionic additives have been developed to modify PP and enhance its melt strength. This presentation will review the recent advances in ionic additive technology for PP, and discuss how it can improve the properties and sustainability of both recycled and virgin PP compounds. The presentation will also provide some examples of commercial ionic additives and their performance in various PP formulations. The aim of this presentation is to demonstrate how ionic additive technology can help PP processors and end-users to create higher value products with improved functionality and sustainability.
Joining Sartomer in 2008 as an Applications Chemist, Brett Robb joined Cray Valley when it was split from Sartomer. Brett is currently responsible for research and development of functional additives for thermoplastics at Total Energies Cray Valley. Brett graduated from Pennsylvania College of Technology with a degree in plastics and polymer engineering technology.
This presentation is about how to create polyolefin compounds with a metallic look. Polyolefins are polymers that are made from olefins, which are unsaturated hydrocarbons. They have many industrial uses, such as packaging, textiles, automotive, and biomedical sectors. To give them a metallic look, Geon, a company that provides polyolefin solutions, uses color theory and customization to match the customer’s needs. Geon also selects the right pigments, additives, and carriers to achieve the optimal metallic effect. Geon considers the compatibility, dispersion, stability, and rheology of the components in the polyolefin compound. Geon also designs, produces, and tests the parts with a metallic look, considering their shape, size, thickness, surface finish, and durability. This document covers all these topics in detail.
Kevin George is a Field Development Engineer at GEON Performance Solutions with close to 10 years of experience helping identify materials for automotive specializing in interiors. Kevin uses that experience to assist GEON’s internal R&D teams in developing products that fully meet the customer’s performance requirements.
Polypropylene (PP) is a widely used polymer that can be improved by nucleating agents, which speed up and tune the crystallization process. One type of nucleating agent is the β-nucleating agent, which can enhance the properties of PP by forming β-crystals. A novel β-nucleating agent, NA-B99P, is introduced in this paper. It is shown that NA-B99P can improve the performance of PP in terms of clarity, stiffness, heat resistance, and processability. NA-B99P can also be used in automotive formulations to achieve better impact strength and scratch resistance. The paper also discusses the latest nucleating agent technology and concludes that NA-B99P is a superior β-nucleating agent for PP.
Yuhei Hattori earned his Degree of Bachelor of Engineering from Nagoya University (2016) and his Degree of Master of Engineering from Nagoya University (2018).
He has 4 years on the job experience in the polymer additives industry for ADEKA Corporation. Especially, he has experience in developing nucleating/clarifying agents for polypropylene. Currently, he is the R&D Advisor for Amfine Chemical Corporation, a position he has held for the last 1 year, and technical support for customer projects.
Polyolefins are versatile polymers that can be used in various applications, such as automotive interiors. However, they also face some challenges, such as weathering, dust accumulation, and scratch resistance. To overcome these challenges, additives engineering is a key strategy that can modify the properties and performance of polyolefins. In this presentation, I will discuss some of the latest developments in additives engineering and how they impact the weather stability and anti-dust properties of polyolefins. I will also share some examples of novel additives, such as nucleating agents, ionic additives, and non-halogen flame retardants, that can enhance the functionality and sustainability of polyolefins.
Mr. Enrico Galfrè is a graduate in Chemistry at Turin University (Italy). He grew his professional experience in polymers, first as R&D Chemist, and then as Customer Technical Support and Application Development, both in the polymers industry at Eastman Chemical and in additives industry at Ciba/BASF. Now, at Sabo SpA, he provides support to Sabo's customers on selecting and developing the most appropriate polymers stabilizing solutions according to the changing needs in the industry
Polyolefins are versatile polymers that can be used in various applications, such as automotive interiors. However, they also face some challenges, such as weathering, dust accumulation, and scratch resistance. To overcome these challenges, additives engineering is a key strategy that can modify the properties and performance of polyolefins. In this presentation, I will discuss some of the latest developments in additives engineering and how they impact the weather stability and anti-dust properties of polyolefins. I will also share some examples of novel additives, such as nucleating agents, ionic additives, and non-halogen flame retardants, that can enhance the functionality and sustainability of polyolefins.
Dr. Deen Chundury is a polymer expert with over 40 years of experience in the plastics industry. He is currently the Chief Technology Officer of Plastics Compounding, LLC, a company that provides custom compounding solutions for various applications. He joined the company in January 2018, after serving as the Vice-President of R&D at Wellman Advanced Materials, a leading producer of recycled and virgin resin products. Prior to that, he was the Director of Technology at Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, a manufacturer of engineered thermoplastics for automotive and industrial markets. He started his career at Ferro Corporation, where he worked as a Technical Director for 23 years and was responsible for developing and commercializing high-value engineered compounds, color concentrates, and thermoplastic elastomers. He received four Weaver Awards for Technical Excellence and over 12 New Products Awards at Ferro Corporation. He holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Science and Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Polypropylene (PP) is a widely used polymer in the automotive industry, especially for interior parts. However, PP is prone to scratching and abrasion, which can affect its appearance and durability. To improve the scratch resistance of PP, various additives can be compounded with the polymer, such as nucleating agents, lubricants, and anti-static agents. In this presentation, I will discuss how different combinations of these additives affect the performance of anti-scratch additives in PP automotive formulation. I will also show some experimental results and compare the scratch resistance of PP with different additive systems. The presentation will provide some insights into the optimal additive selection and formulation for enhancing the anti-scratch properties of PP.
Emile Homsi is the R&D and Technical Services Leader of NAM/LATAM for the Polymer Additives Industrial Solutions at Cargill BioIndustrial.
Dr. Homsi has spent his career in strategic leadership of global applications, product Development, and business development programs with focus in the Polymer Industry and key roles with Polymer Manufacturing Companies, such as BASF, Sabic and others. He was responsible to drive the technology strategy, road-map roll out and execution, among other duties stimulating growth.
Dr. Homsi earned a Doctorate in Engineering, Masters in Technology Management and Business Administration, and other degrees.
Dr. Nischay is an R&D Chemist at Mitsubishi Chemical America (MCA) responsible for the product development function of TPV and TPE materials for automotive and building and construction applications. Prior to joining MCA, he received his Ph.D. degree in Plastics Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell His areas of expertise include polymer formulation development, elastomer technology, surface engineering for tailored wettability and advanced polymer processing.
Electric vehicles (EVs) require cooling systems to maintain optimal battery performance and safety. However, traditional materials such as EPDM rubber, PA and PPS have limitations in terms of durability, weight and cost. Santoprene® thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) is a novel material that can be used to manufacture EV cooling hoses and tubes. It offers increased durability, lower weight and system costs, and in-process and end-of-life recyclability. In this presentation, I will discuss the advantages of Santoprene® TPV over conventional materials and show some examples of its applications in EV cooling systems. I will also share some insights into the latest developments and trends in the EV cooling hose market.
Paul currently serves as the Santoprene Automotive Marketing Manager and Application Development Engineer for the Americas at Celanese. He has 33 years of experience entirely in the plastics compounding and materials industry, with most of that focused in the thermoplastic Elastomer area. He has had roles ranging from Technology Development, to Product Management, to Sales and Marketing, to Business and Strategy Development. He holds a Master’s Degree in Polymer Science and a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from the University of Akron.
Şerif Erdoğan is a Chemical Engineer, he started his career at National Institute as Research Engineer in Fluid Mechanics. He joined Elastron in May 2005 in the role of Global R&D Manager and is responsible for developing and executing of TPV(EPDM/PP), TPE-S and TPO based compounds to add value in market. Using his knowledge and experience, he will talk about Self Lubricated Low Coefficient of Friction TPV(EPDM/PP) for Corner Molding Application; Optimum adhesion performance onto EPDM,TPV and TPS Weatherseal.
Dr. Karmo is currently the Global Materials Technology Manager at Vintech Industries. Prior to that he was the Material Innovation and Technology Lead for Body Exterior at Ford Motor Company Product Development Center. Dr. Karmo started his automotive career at General Motors Corporation where he held many Engineering positions at the GM Technical Center including manager of Materials and Fastener Engineering.
Dr. Karmo received his Master and Ph.D. degrees in Polymer science and Engineering from the University of Lancaster in England. He also attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the School of Engineering, Dept of Macromolecular science.
Takeshi is currently a senior researcher at Sumitomo Chemical Japan. Throughout all his business career, he has been engaged in the development of TPO products. He has 25 years working experience with considerable expertise in the polymer science which allows him to provide clear and smart solutions on challenging matters.
Dr. Prashant Bhadane is a Sr Product Development Engineer at Celanese Corporation for their Santoprene® TPV business and have now been working in the field of TPVs for over two-decades. His research interests and expertise include polymer surfaces, interface modification, morphology control, reactive polymer processing, polymer blends, and their structure-property relationship. His passion for research, leadership, and for developing sustainable solutions has yielded several patents and scientific publications with over 200 citations and has helped create new Santoprene® TPV products that include built-in low COF B260/265 bonding grades and more recently the development of whole Santoprene® ECO-R product platform. Today he is talking to us on reducing carbon footprint with Santoprene® ECO-R products that are made using post-consumer recycled materials.
Kaho is currently a research engineer at ENEOS Materials corporation. Prior to coming to ENEOS she worked for Toyoda Gosei for 4 years. She has bachelors and masters in chemical engineering from Nagoya university Japan.
The presentation will discuss how sustainable system basis chips (SBC) can improve the compatibility and performance of different polymers in automotive applications. SBC are integrated circuits that provide power management, communication, and diagnostic functions for various automotive modules. The presentation will showcase some innovative solutions to enhance multipolymer compatibilization and performance using SBC, such as wave casting technology, elastomer product designs, and TPV for glass-run channel corner joint applications. The presentation will also address the challenges and opportunities of using SBC in the automotive industry.
Polymer Scientist with experience in product and application development across a wide range of industries. David and his team have successfully leveraged the versatile chemistry of styrenic block copolymers and unparalleled manufacturing expertise of Kraton to create new opportunities and markets, including CirKular+ solutions. Prior to joining Kraton, David was a Research Scientist at the Soft Matter Facility located in College Station, TX. David has BS and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering. David has expertise in different areas of engineering and science, including polymer structure-property-processing relationships, and material and chemical characterization techniques.
Koffi Dagnon is a lead scientist with more than 15 years of experience in product and application development in the research field of thermoplastic materials. He joined SABIC in 2019 and is responsible for developing lightweight, cost-effective thermoplastic and thermoplastic composites hybrids solutions for EV batteries and automotive structures. Koffi holds a PhD in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of North Texas.
Alex Baker has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and has worked at Moldex3D as an Applications Engineer since 2015. At Moldex3D, Alex has provided training in molding simulation software for over a thousand users, has worked on numerous validation and benchmarking case studies, and supports the technological integration of Moldex3D for several different OEMs in various industries. In addition, Alex also manages the Moldex3D North America YouTube channel, a source of valuable information for new and existing users of all types.
Live, nonfunctional decorative stitching (LNDS) is a novel technique that enables the creation of aesthetic patterns on automotive interior components without the need for cutting, sewing, and wrapping (CSW) processes. LNDS uses a robotic sewing system to apply stitches directly on vacuum-formed or injection-molded parts, resulting in reduced material waste, lower production costs, and enhanced design flexibility. This paper presents the implementation of LNDS as an alternative to CSW technology for automotive applications, and discusses its advantages, challenges, and future prospects. The paper also provides examples of LNDS products and compares their performance and appearance with CSW products.
Work in the Advanced Development Group at Inteva Products focusing on material, process and equipment development for automotive interior applications. Current work focused on development and growth of advanced stitching technologies within the automotive interiors market. Past experience in low pressure injection molding, thermoplastic LFT compression molding (LFT-G & LFT-D), long fiber injection molding and non-woven compression forming, Responsible for profile extrusion process development and production implementation for GM L car program as well as automated stitching technology development and production implementation for GM Lambda (Chev Traverse, Buick Enclave & GMC Acadia) and GM K2XX, T1XX & T1MCM (Chev Silverado & GMC Sierra PU trucks) programs. Received BSME from North Carolina State University in 1985 and MSMSE from University of Michigan in 1995.
Polymer fusion labeling is a novel technique that allows permanent and durable labeling of polyolefin thermoplastic products, such as containers, packaging, and medical devices. Unlike conventional methods that rely on adhesives, inks, or coatings, polymer fusion labeling uses compatible pigmented polymers that fuse with the product at a molecular level. This eliminates the risk of label detachment, fading, or contamination, which can cause safety hazards, regulatory violations, or legal liabilities. Polymer fusion labeling also offers environmental benefits, as it does not generate any waste or interfere with the recyclability of the product. In this paper, we describe the principles and advantages of polymer fusion labeling technology, and present some case studies of its applications in various industries.
Jason Brownell, Director of Engineering at Polyfuze Graphics Corporation, specializes in the world’s only permanent labeling solutions for olefin based plastics. He has used his knowledge and experience in permanent labeling solutions to provide excellent service for industries ranging from recreational kayaks and boats, automotive, packaging, commercial cleaning products, and durable plastic products industries. Having served in many roles in the company for the past 25+ years, including traveling to client facilities to help solve problems with a hands-on approach, he is able to understand and strives to meet each customer’s needs on an individual basis. Currently as the Director of Engineering and a Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt, Jason develops strategies that aim to help customers achieve their goals. Whether it’s helping a customer achieve a goal with brand image, reducing scrap rate, or improving efficiency through Lean Six Sigma techniques, Jason is committed to helping people succeed. Currently residing in the beautiful Verde Valley, Arizona, Jason enjoys spending time with his family, playing multiple musical instruments, and cooking.
Dmitriy Yurchenko is the Engineering Manager for GKN Additive, North America. Dmitriy has worked with polymer powder bed fusion printing for over 5 years, specifically optimizing the GKN processes and systems for production of end-use parts for the Automotive and Commercial industries. He has a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from California State University, Long Beach and an MBA from San Diego State University.
Managing melt temperature in a twin screw extruder is crucial to achieve optimal mixing and avoid degradation of polymers and additives. A twin screw extruder consists of modular screws and barrels that can be configured to suit different process tasks. The screws rotate at high speed and input energy into the materials, resulting in high shear and temperature. The melt temperature depends on various factors, such as the OD/ID ratio of the screws, the design of the melting zone, and the front-end device. By adjusting these factors, one can control the free volume, torque, and pressure in the extruder and optimize the melt temperature for different formulations.
Dmitriy Yurchenko is the Engineering Manager for GKN Additive, North America. Dmitriy has worked with polymer powder bed fusion printing for over 5 years, specifically optimizing the GKN processes and systems for production of end-use parts for the Automotive and Commercial industries. He has a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from California State University, Long Beach and an MBA from San Diego State University.
Charlie is President of Leistritz Extrusion USA, a company that provides twin screw extruders and engineering services to the plastics and Life Science in the North America and around the world.
Extensively published, Charlie has delivered technical presentations at wide-ranging events around the world, authored numerous papers and chapters relating to an array of extrusion related topics, and is the co-editor of the textbook entitled Pharmaceutical Extrusion Technology. He has also been awarded 2 extrusion related patents.
Charlie serves on the Board of Directors for the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Extrusion Division, and the Polymer Processing Institute. He also serves on the Bioplastics Division Committee for the Plastics Industry Association. Charlie earned his undergraduate degree from Gettysburg College and an MBA from Rutgers University.
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Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) is a versatile and recyclable foam material that has many applications in various industries, especially in the automotive sector. EPP has several advantages over other materials, such as high energy absorption, multiple impact resistance, thermal insulation, buoyancy, water and chemical resistance, and high strength to weight ratio. It is widely used in automotive seating, as it can provide comfort, safety, and durability to the passengers. It can be molded into any shape and size, and can be combined with other materials through insert molding or attachment methods. It can also withstand high temperatures and pressures during processing and use.
EPP has unique material properties that make it suitable for finite element analysis (FEA) modeling. It exhibits stress-strain and isotropic characteristics that can be simulated and optimized using FEA software. It can also meet the performance standards required by the automotive industry, such as crashworthiness, flammability, and dimensional stability. It is a remarkable material that has many benefits and applications in the automotive sector and beyond. EPP can offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for various engineering challenges.
Steve has over 35 years of experience in the plastics field. He has worked at Raytheon, Dow/United Technologies, ARCO Chemical, and is currently the Vice President of Technology at JSP. He holds BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He holds 2 patents in the area of expanded polypropylene foam. He is the author of over 30 papers and 2 book chapters in the area of polyolefin foamed plastics, and is member of ASME, SPE, SAE and the Plastics Pioneers Association.
Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) is a versatile and recyclable foam material that has many applications in various industries, especially in the automotive sector. EPP has several advantages over other materials, such as high energy absorption, multiple impact resistance, thermal insulation, buoyancy, water and chemical resistance, and high strength to weight ratio. It is widely used in automotive seating, as it can provide comfort, safety, and durability to the passengers. It can be molded into any shape and size, and can be combined with other materials through insert molding or attachment methods. It can also withstand high temperatures and pressures during processing and use.
EPP has unique material properties that make it suitable for finite element analysis (FEA) modeling. It exhibits stress-strain and isotropic characteristics that can be simulated and optimized using FEA software. It can also meet the performance standards required by the automotive industry, such as crashworthiness, flammability, and dimensional stability. It is a remarkable material that has many benefits and applications in the automotive sector and beyond. EPP can offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for various engineering challenges.
Steve has over 35 years of experience in the plastics field. He has worked at Raytheon, Dow/United Technologies, ARCO Chemical, and is currently the Vice President of Technology at JSP. He holds BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He holds 2 patents in the area of expanded polypropylene foam. He is the author of over 30 papers and 2 book chapters in the area of polyolefin foamed plastics, and is member of ASME, SPE, SAE and the Plastics Pioneers Association.
Dan is currently a product application and development engineer at LyondellBasell Advanced Polymer Solutions division Polypropylene compound group. His responsibilities include innovative research for automotive applications, heavy truck and non-automotive product development, and center of excellence of minerals and fillers for PP compounds. He has three years applied research experience since obtaining Ph.D. in 2020. He holds Ph.D. degree with a research focus in polymer nanocomposites from The Ohio State University. He has authored or co-authored 20 journal papers, and served as journal guest editor in polymer and composite research field. Throughout his PhD and Postdoc programs, he successfully completed several research projects funded by different U.S. federal and state agencies, and Honda R&D Americas, etc.
Inteva is a global supplier of engineered components and systems for the automotive industry, with product lines that include Closure Systems, Interior Systems, Roof Systems, and Motors and Electronics1. In this presentation, the company will share its insights on the latest trends in the design and manufacture of door systems.
Brian H. Staser is the Manager of Global Door Systems Advanced Development at Inteva Products, LLC. He has more than three decades of experience in mechanical product engineering and automotive door hardware engineering. He leads the development of innovative door hardware systems for automotive and commercial truck applications, integrating features and functions from Inteva’s three product groups. He has successfully launched over eight production door hardware systems and received five industry awards for his contributions to lightweighting and plastics technology. He has also published two papers in his field. He holds 23 patents, four defensive publications, one trade secret, and has 13 patents pending. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, an M.S. in Engineering – Mechanical Engineering from Loyola Marymount University, and an M.S. in Engineering Science in the Management of Technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Translucent TPO compounds can provide light-weight and cost-effective solutions for interior and exterior parts with diffusive light transmittance properties. These materials can enable future automotive part design with enhanced lighting, signaling, and messaging effects, while maintaining the benefits of traditional TPO materials, such as light weight, good injection molding processing, and low-temperature toughness. In this talk, the effect of polyolefin elastomer selection on optical and physical performance of translucent TPO compounds will be presented, highlighting polyolefin elastomer designs that enable an improved balance of properties.
Gaoxiang Wu is currently associate research scientist at Dow Inc. and have over five years’ experience on designing new polyolefin elastomer materials to satisfy emerging industrial needs with strong focus to the polyolefin elastomer impact modifier innovation in automotive TPO application. Gaoxiang Wu holds Ph.D. degree from Materials Science and Engineering Department at University of Pennsylvania and had extensive academic research experience on polymers and interfacial phenomena with colloidal/nano-particle materials. He has published over 20 papers on top-tier materials science journals, 14 patent applications with 1 patent granted in his research fields.
Mr. Nicolas Schlutig is the technical manager at SumikaPolymer Compounds France. His responsibilities include technical lead for main automotive OEMs and global technical assistance for glass reinforced compounds polypropylene. He started as a process engineer and have more than 16 years of experience in formulation, compounding and processing of glass reinforced compounds. He has extensive experience in the automotive applications. He holds an engineering degree in polymer engineering and technology from Marseille University, France.
Dr. Jane Lu received her PhD degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Delaware. Before joining Lyondellbasell in 2014, Dr. Lu has more than 10 years R&D experience in polymers and composites, and their broad applications. Currently she is focusing on the product development of TPO for automotive applications at Lyondellbasell.
Mr. Nicolas Schlutig is the technical manager at SumikaPolymer Compounds France. His responsibilities include technical lead for main automotive OEMs and global technical assistance for glass reinforced compounds polypropylene. He started as a process engineer and have more than 16 years of experience in formulation, compounding and processing of glass reinforced compounds. He has extensive experience in the automotive applications. He holds an engineering degree in polymer engineering and technology from Marseille University, France.
In his presentation, he will discuss how Caresoft Global finds itself at the center of the ongoing mobility revolution. As a benchmarking and engineering firm, they are in a uni9ue position where they are able to observe and assess the different levels of efficiency, complexity, and opportunity for optimization within a vehicle. Manoj will share the evolving role of materials in enabling mass and cost savings, safety, styling, and ease-of-manufacturing for EVs.
A seasoned engineering professional, leader, and strategist, Manojdeep Jasrotia is the Vice President of North America Sales for Caresoft Global. His experiences in industrial engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and product line marketing help him in putting together and executing customized consulting and technical solutions for global Automotive clients.
As a leader at Caresoft, Manoj has been able to witness first-hand the mobility evolution and can speak directly to the current plastics applications in the market and the future we can expect to see.
The vehicle cockpit is where all the mobility megatrends of electrification, connectivity, autonomy and sustainability converge. By mid-decade, vehicle cockpits will go through a major transformation that promises to bring new opportunities and challenges for TPOs. This presentation will feature pictures of the most impressive cockpit and IP designs coming out in 2024-2026. Instrument panels will be designed to limit driver distraction, with more information being projected on the windshield and virtual cockpit controls placed closer to the driver. Because a growing number of consumers view vehicles as a "third space" defined as a place outside of work and home, automakers are designing interiors more like living rooms with moveable seats. EVs also will drive a transition from electricity-guzzling HVAC systems to more efficient heated and cooled seats and surfaces. This presentation will reveal the results of our latest industry survey including when most vehicles will have 25% sustainable cockpit materials. Future cockpits also will have more safeguards for children, the elderly and the disabled, with antimicrobial surfaces and automatic doors for easy access.
Drew Winter has followed cockpit of the future topics and have been researching and writing about automotive interiors for more than 20 years, first as an award-winning automotive journalist and then as a producer of the WardsAuto Interiors and WardsAuto User Experience conferences. He test drives dozens of vehicles a year as a judge for the Wards 10 Best Propulsion Systems, Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX each year in addition to being a long-time juror for the North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year awards. You can find his research here: https://wardsintelligt highlightence.informa.com/
Actions to combat climate change and its impact are Increasing, but what the plastics industry has accomplished so far is not sufficient to meet ambitious carbon reduction goals. Many companies are behind schedule on their initiatives because many current sustainable solutions are restricted by technical limitations.
In early 2023, Braskem announced a plan to invest in an industrial-scale facility in the US to produce 100% segregated biobased polypropylene (PP) from bioethanol as part of its commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Braskem has been commercially producing biobased polyethylene (PE) from bioethanol in Brazil since 2010. This project will utilize Braskem's proven proprietary technology to convert bioethanol into physically segregated bio-based PP. This investment in biobased polypropylene validates Braskem's commitment to the North American PP industry by using well-known technology and decades of experience to deliver sustainable PP solutions.
Gustavo Lombardi is tGustavector of Business Development at Braskem America. In this role, he is responsible for the Biobased Polypropylene project, leading the strategy globally from sourcing to sales, including supplier and commercial partner selection and the long-term business plan for the project. Previously, Gustavo has held various roles at Braskem, including the Market Segment Leader for Nonwoven, Channels to Market, and Green Polyethylene for North America, He also served as the business leader for the Colombia and Andean Region in South America, and sales in Brazil. Prior to joining Braskem, Gustavo worked for Henkel, leading the industrial adhesives division in Brazil, and worked at the flexible packaging division for Bemis in Brazil. Gustavo holds a bachelor's degree in Polymeric Material Engineering from the University of Sao Carlos in Sao Paulo/Brazil. He furthered his education by obtaining a Business Administration specialization at the University of Berkeley, California.
Actions to combat climate change and its impact are Increasing, but what the plastics industry has accomplished so far is not sufficient to meet ambitious carbon reduction goals. Many companies are behind schedule on their initiatives because many current sustainable solutions are restricted by technical limitations.
In early 2023, Braskem announced a plan to invest in an industrial-scale facility in the US to produce 100% segregated biobased polypropylene (PP) from bioethanol as part of its commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Braskem has been commercially producing biobased polyethylene (PE) from bioethanol in Brazil since 2010. This project will utilize Braskem's proven proprietary technology to convert bioethanol into physically segregated bio-based PP. This investment in biobased polypropylene validates Braskem's commitment to the North American PP industry by using well-known technology and decades of experience to deliver sustainable PP solutions.
Gustavo Lombardi is tGustavector of Business Development at Braskem America. In this role, he is responsible for the Biobased Polypropylene project, leading the strategy globally from sourcing to sales, including supplier and commercial partner selection and the long-term business plan for the project. Previously, Gustavo has held various roles at Braskem, including the Market Segment Leader for Nonwoven, Channels to Market, and Green Polyethylene for North America, He also served as the business leader for the Colombia and Andean Region in South America, and sales in Brazil. Prior to joining Braskem, Gustavo worked for Henkel, leading the industrial adhesives division in Brazil, and worked at the flexible packaging division for Bemis in Brazil. Gustavo holds a bachelor's degree in Polymeric Material Engineering from the University of Sao Carlos in Sao Paulo/Brazil. He furthered his education by obtaining a Business Administration specialization at the University of Berkeley, California.
Moderated by Petya Yaneva, Ph.D., SABIC | Pravin Sitaram, Haartz Group
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Supplier Panelists: Advanced Composites | The Materials Group
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