EPM Technology will be producing interior trim for Ford

EPM Technology will be producing interior trim for Ford
By Richard Stirling

A UK composites firm has won a Ј4.8m (E6.8m) contract to replace veneer parts in automotive interiors.

EPM Technology managing director Graham Mulholland told PRW.com the company had won a contract with Ford’s Premier Automotive Group to make interior trim using carbon fibre composites.

Mulholland said the contract was for 2,000 units; the company plans to produce 200 units a week.

“We’ve taken components out of the vehicle that have traditionally been veneer and replaced them with a more sporty, youthful, carbon fibre,” he said.

EPM will produce trim for the interior of doors, dashboard, around the gear knob and over the airbag.

Mulholland said the company was using an overmoulding process for a high turnover of parts. “The temptation would be to redesign the parts completely, but we are replacing their design with our material. The type of material we use has a lot of depth to it.”

Last November EPM acquired the composite arm of the TWR Group, Astec, which develops composites for the motor sport industry.

PRW.com reported earlier this year that demand for automotive body parts had boosted EPM’s turnover from Ј80,000 (E113,600) to Ј1.3m (E1.8m) over five years. The company has developed a composite replacement for plywood used in bus floors, which adds strength to the structure.