The company is building on its success with a thermoplastic lorry sump

The company is building on its success with a thermoplastic lorry sump

BASF has set its sights on developing thermoplastic oil sumps for passenger cars, following the success of its application in DaimlerChrysler’s Actros lorry. The 39-litre sump went into production at the end of 2003 at KTSN (Kunststoftechnik Sachsen), substituting traditional aluminium and SMC sumps.

Speaking at a K show preview this week, engineering thermoplastics sales manager Willi Bartholomeyzik said he foresaw a very large potential market. But he warned the car sump will be a challenge for plastics engineers.

“A car engine block is like a Swiss cheese; there are static functions above and below involving high static and dynamic forces, while a lorry sump is simply like a blister built into a very stable structure.” But Bartholomeyzik was optimistic that it could be done. “Give us half a year. I believe we could succeed in a car next year.” The DaimlerChrysler plastic 500 series lorry sump won a SPE Grand Innovation Award in 2003.