Faurecia, a major automotive oem in the world, announces joining the top cluster “MAI Carbon” based at the innovation park in Augsburg (Germany). The goal is to develop industrial processes to achieve cycle times in series production for the manufacture of composite parts for the automobile.
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Carbon fiber is both lighter and stronger than steel or other lightweight materials such as aluminum. Composites contribute significantly to achieving the objectives of car manufacturers in terms of weight reduction. The use of composites in carbon, allows weight savings of the order of 50% compared to equivalent parts made of steel. Note, 10 kilograms of weight in less on a vehicle reduce to 1g/km reduction in CO2 emissions. The weight reduction is also an important issue to increase the autonomy of electric vehicles.
Christophe Schmitt, Executive Vice-President of Faurecia Clean Mobility said : we are proud to join the German Network of the Carbon with the goal of being able, by the beginning of 2020, the mass production of composite parts. Faurecia aims to become a leading player in sustainable mobility. We intend to achieve our objective by expanding our ecosystem of innovation through partnerships with academic, government, industrial, as well as with startups.
The proximity of the manufacturers of premium German and international partners, recognized as the Institute of Textile of Augsburg, the Fraunhofer institute, the German Aerospace Centre and the University of Augsburg is a unique opportunity for Faurecia to take the lead in the series manufacture of composite parts for structural and semi-structural for the automotive industry.
Faurecia is already a member of the consortium French FORCE with the objective of producing of the carbon fiber at low cost to the automotive industry.
A ceremony took place at Augsburg in the presence of Franz Josef Pschierer, state Secretary of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Media, Energy and Technology, Eva Weber, deputy mayor of Augsburg for the Economy and Finance, Christophe Schmitt, Executive Vice-president, Faurecia Clean Mobility, Wolfgang Hehl, General Manager of Technologiezentrum Augsburg (TZA), Dr Reinhard Janta, a member of the board of Carbon Compounds e. V., Professor Dr.-Ing. Stefan Schlichter of the Institute of Textile of Augsburg, Professor Dr.-Ing. Siegfried Horn, Director General of the Institute of MRM, University of Augsburg, the titular professor Dr. Wolfgang Reif, Vice-president of the University of Augsburg for Technology and Innovation, the Professeeur Dr.-Ing. Klaus Drechsler, Head of the Fraunhofer Institute of Augsburg and Chairman of the MAY
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