AkzoNobel’s Specialty Finishes business has developed a new type of PVDF cast film aimed at replacing mechanically brushed decorative metals.

The dramatic global downshifting in automotive manufacturing hasn’t put the brakes on plastics innovation, if recently announced developments are any indication.

AkzoNobel of the Netherlands, the leading global supplier of paints and coatings, has strengthened its position in the automotive plastics decorating market by acquiring Soliant LLC, Lancaster, S.C., a leading maker of decorative paint-film and bright-film laminates.

What is purported to be the world’s first vehicle featuring a Class-A exterior produced entirely of thermoformed plastics with a laminated paint-film decorative surface will also be the first vehicle designed specifically for law enforcement.

Soliant LLC in Lancaster, S.C., a maker of paint-replacement films for in-mold decorating, has been winning awards for its “bright film” technology, which looks like chrome, since the film was introduced three years ago.

Manufacturers of micro-size components that until now relied exclusively on injection molding may have another option to consider.

Several new processing technologies unveiled at NPE point to thermoforming’s growing capability to produce in-mold labeled and decorated plastic parts.

What’s new in plastics on cars?

Paintless in-mold film decorating and carbon-fiber composites are making inroads in appearance and structural parts. Blow molding is finding new interior applications. And long-fiber thermoplastics are cutting weight and cost on the inside and outside of new passenger vehicles.

Thermoformed parts play two roles in the expanding field of in-mold decorating (IMD) of plastic parts: For injection molding, IMD begins by thermoforming a thin film into decorative shells that are placed in the injection mold cavity and then back-molded with a compatible substrate.

Plastics processors are eyeing form able films as an economical, durable, and environmentally friendly means of producing fully decorated parts right out of the mold.