Jan 23 2008
The SkinForm® process is being used for the first time for a serially produced part in automotive construction, namely, for the headrest of the latest Mercedes-Benz models of the C-, S-, M-, R- and GL- class. The thermoplastic support of the rear headrest cover is made of Terblend® N NM-19, BASF’s ABS/PA blend. This plastic is easy to process and adheres very well to polyurethane, whose soft outside exhibits a leather-like grain and feel. The functional plastic part of the headrest is manufactured by Schenk Plastic Solutions GmbH in Esslingen, Germany.
Headrest with Terblend® N for Mercedes-Benz
First automotive application of the SkinForm process
The SkinForm® process was showcased at the K 2004 plastics trade fair by its developers, KraussMaffei Technologies GmbH, Rühl Puromer and Schenk Plastic Solutions. This process cleverly combines reaction and injection-molding techniques with each other, so that a single process step yields high-quality, leather-like plastic surfaces with a polyurethane outer skin and a mechanically sturdy, thermoplastic support. The molded parts lend themselves particularly well not only for automotive construction, but also for office chairs as well as for articles of daily use such as vacuum cleaners, power tools and notebooks.