Covestro at the “Folien + Fahrzeug” conference on February 8 and 9, 2017 in Bad Kissingen

Covestro has constructed a display and surface demonstrator for explaining the various aspects of its current film developments. The demonstrator will be showcased at the forthcoming “Folien + Fahrzeug” conference and the VDI congress on “Plastics in Automotive Engineering” in Mannheim.

Demonstrator for decorative and functional film solutions

LEVERKUSEN, 20-Jan-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — Covestro has developed a wide range of films for car interiors. The focus is on displays and operating panels that are protected by scratch-resistant, glare-free films. Using them enables new lighting effects and the integration of functions into the instrument panel. They are part of a new concept for vehicle interiors that also takes account of trends such as increasing networking and customization, electric mobility and autonomous driving.

Many of the film solutions were created in close collaboration with partners from various sections of the process chain – film processing by printing, shaping and back-injecting, surface galvanization, mold construction and integrating electronics.

The films can be matte or high gloss, with defined optical properties, including anti-glare effect. The current top issue is the process of seamlessly integrating displays into the large, three-dimensional surfaces of instrument panels and central consoles. “This meets consumers’ desire for a quality, comfortable atmosphere in the interior,” says Dirk Pophusen, film specialist at Covestro and chairperson of the consulting committee for the “Folien + Fahrzeug” conference on February 8 and 9, 2017, in Bad Kissingen (www.folien-fahrzeug.de).

Seeing and feeling electronic displays
He explains the various aspects of film development in a video clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gwGnETu1EY) using a display and surface demonstrator constructed by Covestro and premiered at the plastics trade fair K 2016 in Düsseldorf. This will also help participants in the “Folien + Fahrzeug” conference and the VDI conference “Plastics in Automotive Engineering” on March 29 and 30 in Mannheim (https://www.vdi-wissensforum.de/en/plastics-in-automotive-engineering/) discover the diverse possibilities available.

The Makrofol® HF polycarbonate products are available in various matte grades, are formable in three dimensions, and have a scratch-resistant coating. Thanks to a special layer of coating that is only pre-cured, the films can be formed and back-injected using film insert molding (FIM) after printing. Between shaping and back-injecting, the coating is fully cured using UV lamps.

“Flying symbols”
Another application for polycarbonate films integrated into the demonstrator is switches with “flying symbols.” These center on an innovative combination of printed films and cutting-edge injection molding techniques. This creates switches with a kind of optical 3D effect.

During production, several layers of Makrofol® DE films are printed with various symbols. Their bottom layer has a patterned reverse side. The top layer consists of a particularly scratch-resistant film. When a switch is printed with this film structure, various three-dimensional images appear, or the pattern on the reverse side, depending on whether the LED lighting comes from the side or from below.

About Covestro:
With 2015 sales of EUR 12.1 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and the sports and leisure industries. Covestro, formerly Bayer MaterialScience, has 30 production sites around the globe and as of the end of 2015 employed approximately 15,800 people (full-time equivalents).

SOURCE: Covestro AG

Find more information at www.covestro.com, www.films.covestro.com and www.folien-fahrzeug.de.

Forward-looking statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available on the Covestro website at www.covestro.com. Covestro assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

MEDIA CONTACT

Dr. Frank Rothbarth

Covestro Deutschland AG
External Communications / Trade press
Covestro Deutschland AG
51365 Leverkusen
Germany
Phone: +49 214 6009 2536
frank.rothbarth@covestro.com