Produce carbon fiber windshield for BMW

Produce carbon fiber windshield for BMW

SGL has already received a multi-year order from Koller Kunststofftechnik in August to produce new carbon fiber profiles for windshields for use in future high-volume models of the BMW Group.

The profile is a particularly soft fiber bundle pre-impregnated with various sizes of thermoplastic resin. They will be woven and produced by SGL Carbon based on its own 50k carbon fiber at its plant in Innkreis, Austria, and then processed by Koller's injection molding experts to form parts. The composite component will replace the previous steel windshield. The production of carbon fiber profiles will start at the end of 2020, and then gradually expand in the next few years for the launch of new models of the BMW Group.

In the automotive industry, the windshield is the connecting element between the roof frames, so it has an important stability function. The carbon fiber profile increases the required stiffness and crash safety of the component. At the same time, it helps to significantly reduce the weight of the roof, which can also support smooth and safe driving. In the BMW Group's models, compared with the traditional steel structure design, this innovative carbon fiber component will reduce the weight by 40%, while creating more important space for cable ducts and sensors.

The production of carbon fiber profiles is also particularly suitable for materials and process efficiency in mass production. The profile is composed of several smaller fiber bundles (so-called rods) and is manufactured using modern continuous pultrusion processes. During product and process development, ensuring that material losses in the production process are almost completely avoided is a major goal.

Sebastian Glasser, head of the automotive department of SGL's Carbon Fiber Composites Business Unit, told reporters: "At SGL, we have been committed to developing thermoplastic carbon fiber profiles for injection molding for some time. . This kind of development work has now begun to pay off. Due to its many advantages and competitive costs, we have seen great progress. The technology may also be used in other automotive projects."