Innovative car acoustics system to launch in N. America

Mar 07, 2014

In order to meet the high demand from international car manufacturers, leading producer of vehicle acoustics systems, Autoneum is launching under floor and under engine shields made from its lightweight and multifunctional PET based material Ultra-Silent in the North American market.

Autoneum, a market leader in under body systems for vehicles, will begin producing its specifically designed fibre technology Ultra-Silent for the North American market in the United States from 2015 onwards. The innovative technology is currently utilized at Autoneum sites in Europe only and is successfully deployed for under floor and under engine shields with German premium car manufacturers, among others.

With Ultra-Silent, Autoneum says it is offering the lightest and most powerful under body systems for vehicles: in comparison with conventional plastic solutions, they are said to be up to 50% lighter.

At the same time, they absorb sound, thereby reducing the interior and exterior noise of vehicles. Ultra-Silent is also said to provide the best resistance to stone chipping and impact. The mono-material which is made from glass-free Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres is also water and heat resistant and fully recyclable.

 “Under body systems improve vehicle aerodynamics. This leads to improved fuel efficiency and reduced CO₂ emissions. Since CO₂ emissions are more and more limited by statutory provisions, Autoneum supports its customers in complying with these provisions. Furthermore, Ultra-Silent helps reduce exterior vehicle noise, which is also increasingly regulated,” Autoneum says.

Autoneum, with its headquarters in Winterthur, Switzerland, is a leading producer of vehicle acoustics and thermal management systems. The company develops and manufactures components, modules and complete systems for interior and engine bay as well as heat shields and under body shields.

Customers include leading automobile producers in the key markets of Europe, North America, South America and Asia. Autoneum is represented at about 45 locations in over 20 countries and employs around 9500 people worldwide, about 5% of whom are in Switzerland. The company has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2011.

Source: Inovation IN TEXTILES