Geminus
on the
JEC World
23% weight reduction, 75% reduction in in required design space and 85% less GWP (Global Warming Potential).
All this with a smaller package and while ensuring the same stiffness as the current series component. We reached these goals in collaboration with ENGEL, Feronyl and other partners with our GEMINUS cold-shot tape sandwich technology in a seat bench base.
GEMINUS technology is based on thermoplastic tapes that are applied to the top and bottom of the component. There they have the greatest influence on the mechanical properties. That creates a highly rigid sandwich structure that saves material compared to the original component. As a result, and due to the low thickness of the individual tapes of just 0.2 mm, the amount of material required is reduced to a minimum. This keeps costs low and reduces the component’s global warming potential. Instead of the standard polypropylene, a biomass-balanced variant with a 10% glass fiber reinforcement based on cooking oil residues was used. This change in material further reduced the carbon footprint of the GEMINUS component.
The GEMINUS technology
To further reduce the weight, the base material was additionally foamed, whereby three various foaming options were successfully implemented:
_combined foaming with precision opening
_purely chemical foaming
_physical foaming
This served to ensure compatibility on a wide variety of systems. Optimized process parameters based on Moldflow simulations ensured a tight bond between the tapes and the foamed base material in the sandwich composite. The GEMINUS technology was validated using test specimens, component tests and endurance tests in accordance with KTM quality standards.
