Weight-reduced components and, consequently, more efficient fuel utilization and lower emissions were the focus for the 62nd IAA for commercial vehicles in Hanover, Germany. The German Automotive Industry Association has been talking about an explosion in innovation with regard to greater transportation efficiency and climate protection in the current trend towards lightweight design in the commercial vehicle industry. LAMILUX, Europe’s largest manufacturer of fiber-reinforced plastics, reports an ever-growing worldwide interest in innovative light materials for all types of vehicle superstructures. “The response to our presence at the show was remarkable,� sums up Jochen Specht, Director of Sales for the company’s LAMILUXplan Fiber-Reinforced Plastics Division. “The Hanover show has proven once more the important role weight reduction will play in the commercial vehicle industry in the future.�
HANNOVER/REHAU - “Less weight means fewer emissions�: LAMILUX used this slogan to herald its presence at the world’s key trade fair for transport and mobility in Hanover. “We were able to show the many visitors from abroad that we can move them into the fast lane due to the extraordinary properties of our fiber-reinforced plastics,� affirms Jochen Specht.
Extremely tough and very light composite materials
Robust, highly rigid, scratch-resistant, extremely chemically stable, high mechanical load capacity and, foremost, extremely lightweight - LAMILUX’s plastics are made into panels and sheeting and are ideal for constructing the covers for removable panels. These in turn form the perfect basic structure for lightweight, but extremely sturdy side walls, roofing and floors in truck bodies. LAMILUX introduced
LAMILUX High Strength X-treme, a specially developed plastic for exceptional commercial vehicle applications subjected to high mechanical loads.
This new laminate uses a new composition technique in which reinforcing fibers are incorporated in omnidirectional weaves. The extremely durable and rigid Duroplast composite material also offers a low specific weight. As LAMILUX High Strength X-treme is extremely sturdy, each of the different sandwiched layers can now be even finer, meaning wall thicknesses can be reduced, which, in turn, leads to a notable decrease in weight. It goes without saying that this product also offers all the other advantages that LAMILUX fiber-reinforced plastics provide: exceptional resistance to hail storms and corrosion as well as the capacity to be easily patched up and repaired.
Lightweight vehicles are the driving force on the market
At LAMILUX, they are well aware that fiber-reinforced materials with a matrix and reinforcement consisting of high-performance components are currently setting trends due to their excellent chemical and mechanical stability and their long life expectancy. Jochen Specht: “Fiber-reinforced materials are ideal for reducing weight and saving on fuel.� As LAMILUXplan is extremely rigid and offers excellent mechanical resistance, yet is very light in weight, it far outperforms conventional materials such as aluminum and sheet steel. It can be used in truck and trailer bodies, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, buses as well as other commercial vehicles of all types, such as refrigerated trucks, distribution vehicles, dry bulk carriers and retail trucks.
Uniquely versatile – unlimited possible uses
LAMILUXplan composite material is manufactured on flat production lines over 300 feet long. They are considered the most advanced of their type in Europe. During the continuous production process, fiber mats are saturated in different resins and chemical additives. The self-developed, exceptionally environmentally friendly manufacturing process carries the mats through a large number of stations, where LAMILUXplan is given the properties required for specific uses. The end result is a high-strength, permanently bonded laminate.
About LAMILUX Heinrich Strunz GmbH
Heinrich Strunz GmbH has been producing fiber-reinforced plastics as well as plastic, glass and aluminum daylighting systems under the LAMILUX brand name for more than fifty years. Technological excellence in the LAMILUXplan fiber-reinforced plastic continuous production process makes this medium-sized company the leader in its field in Europe. LAMILUXplan supplies plastics to clients all over the world and provides materials for many industries, such as the automotive sector, mobile home and recreational vehicle manufacturing, refrigerated storage manufacturing, the construction industry and many other industry sectors. With its 400 employees, in 2007 LAMILUX was able to increase its sales volume yet again, when it earned a total of 107 Million Euros. The Heinrich Strunz headquarters are located in Rehau, Upper Franconia, Bavaria.
Press release as MS-Word filePictures:
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Picture 1,
picture 2 and
picture 3: pictures of the production of fiber reinforced plastics.
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Picture 4,
picture 5 and
picture 6: application examples for the commercial vehicle industry
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Picture 7: LAMILUX product quality with multiaxial fabric: LAMILUX High Strength X-treme
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Picture 8: Different color possibilities
Press contactLAMILUX Heinrich Strunz GmbH
Mr. Michael Ertel
Public Relations
Zehstraße 2
95111 Rehau
Germany
Phone: +49 9283 595-270
Fax: +49 9283 595-290
E-mail: michael.ertel@lamilux.de
