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| Truck Fenders |
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| Previous Material: |
Fiberglass, Metal |
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| Current Material: |
Formalloy LG |
| Benefits: |
Weight, Cost, Durability |
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| Widely used and very well-received in the transportation industry are many new truck components, including fenders. Through the use of thermoplastic materials, the trucking industry is seeing a significant reduction in weight over traditional materials, such as metal or fiberglass. This weight reduction has translated into sizable savings in fuel costs within this market. Further, the durability of the plastic material is an added benefit. |
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| SUV Running Boards |
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| Previous Material: |
Metal |
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| Current Material: |
Formalloy LG |
| Benefits: |
Durability, Aesthetics |
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| The transformation of Sports Utility Vehicle Running Boards has been a great success for Spartech, and is an application that is still widely used today. The benefits of material strength, formability, and aesthetics played a key role in accelerating this transformation. |
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| Truck Bedliners |
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| Previous Material: |
Metal, Wood, Cloth |
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| Current Material: |
PE, TPO, ABS, Ultros SRP |
| Benefits: |
Durability, Formability, Design Flexibility |
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| Traditionally fabricated from wood, metal, or fabric, the "new generation" of truck bedliners is far more durable, and with the increased formability, the flexibility of design is another added feature. Further, in many of the rugged environments where bedliners are widely used, the weatherability benefits are also well recognized. |
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| Tonneau Covers |
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| Previous Material: |
Metal, Fiberglass, Cloth |
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| Current Material: |
WeatherPro, ABS, WeatherPro G |
| Benefits: |
Weight, Aesthetics, Cost, Durability |
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| Durability is one of the key drivers in the transformation of truck tonneau covers from traditional products, such as fiberglass, metal, or cloth, to the thermoplastic materials that are being widely used today. Further, aesthetics and reduced weight/costs are also major contributors in the transformation of this application. |
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| Truck Refrigeration Units |
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| Previous Material: |
Metal |
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| Current Material: |
WeatherPro C, Talc Filled PE |
| Benefits: |
Durability, Weatherability, Cost, Weight |
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| Previously metal was the only alternative for applications such as truck refrigeration units. However, with the enhancement of many thermoplastic materials, we are now seeing the transition of many of these types of applications into new products, such as DR/ABS. Durability, weatherability, and weight and cost reductions are the chief benefits of this transition from traditional materials. |
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| SUV Rear Cargo Door |
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| Previous Material: |
Carpet |
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| Current Material: |
ABS |
| Benefits: |
Durability, Convenience |
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| Many Transformations to plastic add value by merely replacing an existing material, but some, like the Isuzu Trooper's Rear Cargo Door, also added value to the new part by giving additional benefits. Replacing the carpet traditionally used in the backs of many SUV's, this use of plastic allowed Isuzu to add a new feature to their door, offering a storage compartment within the door. |
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| Cargo Floors |
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| Previous Material: |
Metal |
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| Current Material: |
Glass Reinforced PP |
| Benefits: |
Weight, Labor Savings, Formability |
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| Traditionally made of metal for its strength, the Jeep Cherokee's new thermoplastic cargo floor is glass reinforced to give it comparable strength. The added cargo storage area provided by the associated spare tire move to below the cargo floor, coupled with the formability and labor savings that were derived from the use of thermoplastics, made it a logical transformation from the traditional material. |
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| Automobile Seat Backs |
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| Previous Material: |
Metal |
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| Current Material: |
PP |
| Benefits: |
Weight, Labor Savings |
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| Thermoplastics are now prevailing as the material of choice in the Pontiac Grand Am Seat Back application. The manufacturer, initially producing the application from metal, now realizes the benefits that can be gained from the use of thermoplastics, such as reduced weight and savings in labor costs, thereby enhancing the automobile as a whole. |
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| Motorcycle Saddle Bags |
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| Previous Material: |
Metal, Leather |
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| Current Material: |
WeatherPro, ABS |
| Benefits: |
Weight, Cost, Formability, Durability |
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| Through efforts to lower the cost of motorcycle saddle bags and at the same time provide improved performance and features, thermoplastics have made a strong move into this industry. Enhanced durability, ease of formability, and the overall aesthetics of the application have also been key factors in the success of this transformation. |
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| Rear Deck Spoilers |
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| Previous Material: |
Fiberglass |
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| Current Material: |
ABS Twin Sheet |
| Benefits: |
Cost, Improved Production |
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| Ease of production and reduced costs are the leading drivers in the transformation of the traditional fiberglass automotive rear deck spoilers into those manufactured with twin sheet ABS. This transition offers the enhanced formability inherent of thermoplastics, as well as superior aesthetics. |
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| Sport Performance Trailer |
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| Previous Material: |
Metal |
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| Current Material: |
WeatherPro |
| Benefits: |
Weight, Durability, Convenience, Portability |
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| Increased durability, coupled with a reduction in weight—made possible through the use of thermo-plastics—has improved the popularity of the new Sport Performance trailer. By using plastics in this application, one formerly made with metal, travel is also being made easier and more economical. |
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| PT Cruiser Cargo Shelf |
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| Previous Material: |
Steel |
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| Current Material: |
Glass Reinforced Polypropylene |
| Benefits: |
Weight, Processability |
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| The rear cargo shelf and table in the back of Daimler Chrysler's PT Cruiser, initially targeted to be metal, are now being made with a glass filled thermoplastic material. The transformation to plastic offers the benefits of reduced weight and easier processability, as well as enhanced aesthetics. |
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| SUV and Van Wheel Covers |
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| Previous Material: |
Fabric, Metal |
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| Current Material: |
WeatherPro G |
| Benefits: |
Durability, Aesthetics, Weight |
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| Improved durability is the leading factor that has influenced the transformation of many SUV and van wheel covers from fabric or metal into WeatherPro G. In addition, superior aesthetics can be attained from many of today's high-gloss plastics, and weight can also be better controlled, thereby helping to reduce costs. |
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| NASCAR Fenders |
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| Previous Material: |
Fiberglass |
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| Current Material: |
Polypropylene |
| Benefits: |
Weight, Cost, Durability |
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| Increased durability, which in turn generates cost savings, is one of the major reasons many NASCAR fenders were recently transformed from fiberglass to polypropylene. In addition, a reduced weight load, which is always a goal for the automotive industry, was also achieved with this transformation. |
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| Cargo Floor Mats/Trays |
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| Previous Material: |
Carpet, Rubber |
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| Current Material: |
TPO |
| Benefits: |
Durability, Cost, Aesthetics |
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| Previously made from carpet or rubber, Cargo Floor Mats and Trays, utilized largely for today's growing SUV market, are now being made from TPO. The added durability of this new material enhanced the product, and the lower cost and improved aesthetics were also contributing factors in the transformation. |
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| Jeep Speaker Pod Assembly |
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| Previous Material: |
Steel |
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| Current Material: |
ReinFORCE GRPP |
| Benefits: |
Durability, Cost, Aesthetics |
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| As an improvement to DaimlerChrysler's new TJ Jeep Wrangler, the Speaker Pod Assembly, traditionally made from steel, has been transformed to ReinFORCE GRPP. This new material offers added durability, as well as cost savings in the production and assembly processes. Further, the enhanced look of the part appealed to the manufacturer. |
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| Truck Side Panels |
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| Previous Material: |
Fiberglass |
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| Current Material: |
WeatherPro |
| Benefits: |
Durability, Cost, Weight |
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| Durability and cost savings are the key factors that have influenced the transition of many truck side panels from fiberglass to WeatherPro. Further, the lighter weight of many of today's thermoplastics, as well as the elimination of painting from the production process, have further enhanced the attractiveness of WeatherPro over traditional fiberglass alternatives. |
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| Bus Window Header Trim |
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| Previous Material: |
Metal |
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| Current Material: |
Weatherable PVC Alloy |
| Benefits: |
Safety, Durability, Cost |
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| The interior window header conduct trim being widely utilized in the school bus transportation industry today, formerly made of metal, is now being replaced with PVC. Benefits of this transformation include increased durability, as well as material cost savings and fewer safety concerns. |
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| Trim/Accessory Panels & Tool Boxes |
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| Previous Material: |
Metal |
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| Current Material: |
Korad/ABS |
| Benefits: |
Design Flexibility, Durability, Weatherability |
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| The trim, accessory panels, and tool boxes on a number of today's light trucks are being constructed from a Korad/ABS material versus metal. The advantages of thermoplastics over the traditional material include formability, which, in turn, generates greater design flexibility for the parts, as well as enhanced durability and weatherability with the new material, thereby producing a better part and a more satisfied consumer in the long-term. |
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| Heavy Truck Headliners |
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| Previous Material: |
Vinyl, Cloth |
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| Current Material: |
ABS |
| Benefits: |
Aesthetics, Durability, Cost |
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| Headliners in many of today's eighteen wheelers that were traditionally made from vinyl or cloth are now being replaced with ABS. Enhanced aesthetics and increased durability are key factors being realized, as drivers today are commonly keeping their trucks longer than in the past. In addition, lower costs associated with installation are further pushing this transformation forward. |
