FIBROPRESS INSTRUMENT PANEL
Application Description: Fibropress is a patented material matrix consisting of 30% long glass fibers and 70% polyolefins that is compression molded into instrument panel substrates.  To create a "soft" IP, the substrate is covered with semi-rigid foam and a cover material.  Fibropress exhibits high impact strength, energy absorption, mass reduction and long-term property retention.  When laser scored to create an airbag deployment seam, the Fibropress construction enables airbag deployment at extremely low temperatures - without fragmentation or measurable free particles.  The inherent strength of Fibropress also allows a coupled airbag system in which the airbag module is attached directly to the underside of the IP, thereby eliminating the cost of weight associated with a separate steel structure to house the system.	Single Most Unique Feature: The Fibropress instrument panel substrate, semi-rigid foam and selected skin covering is laser scored to create a hidden airbag door that deploys at -40 Celsius with no fragmentation or measurable free particles.  This performance is the industry benchmark as automakers seek increasingly stringent low-temperature deployment performance.
Process Descriptions: Compression molding	First Usage of Process?: Injection molding is the dominate process for IPs.  However, compression molding is used for interior components, including instrument panels.
Formerly Used Process:Soft IPs are typically injection molded thermoplastics which are covered with skin and foam in place.   Developments in substrates and processes have been largely incremental.   However, compression molding is used for interior components, including instrument panels.	Tooling Innovations: Innovations in the plastification and compression molding process ensures that the glass fiber length is maintained at >5mm in length.  This results in the superior impact and energy absorption properties.
Material Innovations: Fibropress is the result of significant development work that yielded a material with a balance of performance characteristics particularly related to safety and hidden airbag door applications.   For example, the plastification process maintains most of the original length of the glass fibers so as to optimize the impact and energy absorption properties.   Fibropress has a density of 1/09g/cm3, which is lower than most incumbent materials.  This translates to a weight savings of approximately 3-5% on a comparable size part.  From a systems perspective, additional weight reduction is achieved through the coupled air bag system that eliminates the need for a separate steel structure.	Mass Savings: Fibropress has a density of 1/09g/cm3, which is lower than most incumbent materials.  This translates to a weight savings of approximately 3-5% on a comparable size part.  From a systems perspective, additional weight reduction is achieved through the coupled air bag system that eliminates the need for a separate steel structure.Fibropress offers performance value add in the form of low-temperature airbag deployment and long-term property retention over and above typical IP material constructions.  This additional performance is available at a competitive cost.
Cost Savings: Fibropress offers performance value add in the form of low-temperature airbag deployment and long-term property retention over and above typical IP material constructions.  This additional performance is available at a competitive cost.	Cost Avoidance: Hidden air bag doors improve interior aesthetics and eliminate the potential fit-finish and BSR issues associated with separate air bag doors.  More importantly, Fibropress enables air bag deployment at low temperatures without free particles or fragmentation.
Direct Consumer Benefit: Hidden air bag doors improve interior aesthetics and eliminate the potential fit-finish and BSR issues associated with separate air bag doors.  More importantly, Fibropress enables air bag deployment at low temperatures without free particles or fragmentation.Yes, Fibropress can be processed into IPs for any customer.	Is Technology Transferable?:Yes, Fibropress can be processed into IPs for any customer.
Significant Safety Benefit: Air bag deployment without the risk of IP fragmentation and free particles is a safety benefit that OEMs are driving toward.  Moreover, the long-term property retention makes this performance characteristic viable over the life of the vehicle.	Significant Environmental Benefit: NA