Talisman Plastics have accelerated plans to make their injection moulding plant more environmentally friendly, and for scoping more projects to replace heavy components with lighter, stronger plastic parts, particularly for the automotive sector.
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Talisman Plastics has installed a new electric vehicle charging point at its Malvern plant |
Talisman already works with many OEMs currently advancing plans to electrify their product range, and the UK Government’s announcement that new sales of petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned earlier than planned, in 2030, has expedited the process for many manufacturers. Talisman Plastics supports various partners in the automotive industry looking to save weight in their vehicles by engineering parts traditionally made from steel or aluminium in a specialist lightweight plastic, that retains the same strength as the original material.
Martin Hefford, technical sales manager at Talisman Plastics, said: “The reduction in weight leads to fewer CO2 emissions, meaning drivers can save tax, and that manufacturers’ fleet averages align with mandated targets. All of these small changes can really have a positive effect on the emissions of vehicles as we move towards more take up of battery electric vehicles, and the drive towards net zero, which the UK Government has targeted by 2050.”
The company is already familiar with producing components for various makes and models such as illuminated treadplates, script badging, and pedal and bumper fixtures.
Hefford said: “Talisman Plastics use a wide range of engineering materials commonly used for metal replacement, including aromatic amides, polyphenylene sulphide, poly ether and aryl ether ketones.”
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The new Enviroloc, made from a 100% recycled base polymer |
The changes in materials used in vehicle construction do not have an adverse effect on the ability to recycle old cars. Jaguar Land Rover vehicles are designed to be 85% recyclable and 95% recoverable at the point of dismantling, and the introduction of further plastic components to the makeup of cars across the industry means that more parts can be recycled.
Moving away from conventional use of aluminium and steel in vehicle production towards plastic does not have any negative impact on the safety to the vehicle’s occupants either, says Hefford. “Modern vehicles with more plastic being used within the car’s design still have to pass the same stringent safety tests. The parts we manufacture must confirm to our customers drawings, managed by our quality team ensuring the relevant PPAP accreditations are gained.”
Talisman has installed electric vehicle charging points at its premises in Malvern, committing to its program of environmental awareness, which has so far this year included the launch of Enviroloc, the first security seal made from recycled polypropylene, and continued investment in newer injection moulding machines while also decommissioning relatively inefficient, older machines.
The newer machines combined with cloud-based operation facilitates 24-hour production, meaning more work can be carried out while keeping overall energy consumption down. Further initiatives are under way to reduce energy consumption and be mindful of the environmental impact of the Malvern plant.
