The carmaker predicts plastics will account for 18% of the weight of a BMW car in 2009

The carmaker predicts plastics will account for 18% of the weight of a BMW car in 2009

BMW expects to use a growing proportion of plastics to meet its car development challenges. BMW’s director of operating strength and materials development Rudolf Stauber predicted that in five years plastics would represent up to 18% of the weight of a BMW car. The proportion has grown from 6% in the 1970s and 8% in the 1980s to today’s 13%.

Speaking at a press tour of BMW’s Landshut and Dingolfing plants in Germany prior to K2004, Stauber said future highlights in car development include lightweight technology, recycling of materials and nanotechnology.

The front side panels on the new 6-Series Coupe are injection moulded from PPE and PA, making each 2kg lighter than the steel equivalent. BMW’s new emphasis on external styling was also an important influence in the decision to use plastics since it allowed designers to integrate long body lines; this would have been impossible in steel panels.

BMW claims production of the part required one of the most complex moulds of its kind currently used in the automotive industry. There are nine sliding elements in the mould, which was developed in-house. With a wall thickness of 2.7mm-2.8mm, the panel is injection moulded in-house on a 3,200-tonne Hemscheidt machine. The cycle time is 70-80 seconds.