Trinseo | Trinseo Powers Multiple 2018 SPE Automotive Innovation Award Winners

November 20, 2018

Trinseo Powers Multiple 2018 SPE Automotive Innovation Award Winners

Trinseo (NYSE: TSE), a global materials solutions provider and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, is proud to supply the materials used in two of the 10 winners at the 48^th Annual SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Competition & Gala in suburban Detroit on November 7. It is the oldest and largest competition of its kind in the automotive and plastics industries.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) was honored with the SPE Innovation Award in the “Body Exterior” category for the thermoplastic liftgate on its 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The thermoplastic liftgate replaces the steel design and enables a 28 percent mass reduction in addition to a 50 percent tooling and capital investment savings. Trinseo is pleased to have contributed to this success with its Polypropylene Long Glass Fiber (PP LGF) material DLGF 9411, enabling the molded-in-color grain surface.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) 2019 Jeep Cherokee Liftgate

“The automotive industry feels now the need for innovative lightweight solutions and modern cost-effective materials more than ever,” said Jim Otis, Trinseo’s commercial director automotive North America. “Our LGF-PP product provides up to 50 percent lighter parts and enables metal replacement.

“We are glad that we could implement this innovative solution in the new Jeep Cherokee, and that the multi-years efforts of our technical team contributed to Fiat Chrysler receiving this prize.”

The other Trinseo partner and SPE Innovation Award winner was Ford, which was distinguished in the “Safety” category for its interlocking mechanism design for side impact on the 2019 Transit Connect van. This patent-pending interlocking mechanism improves door trim performance during side impact by preventing the fracturing or separating of components that could cause sharp edges. It also replaces the need for metal bracket reinforcement solutions, avoiding 3.7 kg in weight per vehicle. Ford’s award-winning mechanism is made of Trinseo’s MAGNUM^TM 3325MT ABS.

Ford 2019 Transit Connect Van Interlocking Mechanism for Side Impact

Award competitions like this one continue to prove that car manufactures are facing higher consumer pressure to improve the quality of their vehicles. Trinseo’s broad portfolio of automotive rigid and soft-touch plastics and a proven R&D expertise help our customers to find the best solution for every challenge they meet – be it premium aesthetics, weight reduction, improved safety, processing flexibility or cost effectiveness.