Partner of the Automotive Industry

Examples of applications for the automotive industry

Within the global automotive supply industry, Kautex Maschinenbau is recognized as the technology and market leader for 3D blow molding technologies.

This recognition is based on innovative ideas and the close cooperation between customers and the Kautex Maschinenbau Technical Center where many 3D applications have been developed for production readiness. Considering its expertise in industrial blow molding machines for plastic fuel tanks and other industrial applications, Kautex Maschinenbau has become an internationally recognized partner of the automotive industry in the area of blow molding.

As an integral part of its services, Kautex Maschinenbau consults with and supports customers from an initial concept through final implementation of blow molding related projects. Kautex Maschinenbau realizes the significance of blow molding applications in the automotive sector.

Spoilers and bumper covers

As a result, joint developments with automotive suppliers have always ranked high among the research and development projects of Kautex Maschinenbau. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the first plastic fuel tank (PFT) produced in large volumes was blow molded on Kautex Maschinenbau equipment as early as in 1973. Kautex Maschinenbau also pioneered the market introduction of blow molded rear spoilers and fascia covers in 1981.

Continuous development in the automotive industry not only resulted in new applications, but also raised demands with respect to extrusion blow molding technologies. While articles such as bellows, flexible protection covers, air ducts and windshield washer bottles were the beginning, advanced processes and new resins are permitting the use of blow molding for fuel tank filler pipes, air intake pipes, turbo charger hot air ducts and other applications installed close to the engine itself.

Further developments that have emerged from the Kautex Maschinenbau Technical Center and become high volume production parts include coextruded six-layer PFTs with increasingly complex shapes and numerous three-dimensional, convoluted ducts blow molded with minimum scrap using sequential coextrusion of dual durometer materials (hard-softhard) or produced for hightemperature applications. Kautex Maschinenbau is continuing its role as a pioneer contributing to the development of the blow molding industry.

The growth of blow molded automotive products will continue and more advanced applications are already being developed. Example: Sevenlayer coextruded fuel tank filler pipes with electrically conductive inner layer or decorative surfaces. Kautex Maschinenbau always maintains a close contact to users and resin suppliers so that new applications can be brought to market rapidly.