On June 28, 2024, the 22nd Automotive Award Night took place, where all winners and nominees of the SPE Automotive Award 2024 were honored. The competition, held every one and a half years since 1992, is highly valued and supported by many companies in the plastics industry due to the high quality of the submissions and the objective evaluation criteria. This year, the expert jury assessed a total of 43 components that showed a clear trend towards responsible design. With sustainable materials and technologies, the submitted innovations demonstrate that companies like LEONHARD KURZ are actively working to make the vehicles of tomorrow more environmentally friendly in both production and operation. The Fürth-based specialist for high-quality surface finishes was honored in two categories for its pioneering front and rear components.
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Automotive front panel with DECOPUR®: Focus on design and process efficiency
With its innovative front panel, KURZ took fourth place in the ‘Enabler Technology’ category, subcategory ‘Materials & Technologies.’ The front panel, finished with DECOPUR®, is an outstanding example of bundled competence. The process technology and design come from KURZ, the material (translucent polypropylene) from raw material manufacturer SABIC, the tools from KURZ subsidiary Schöfer, and the machine from Engel Austria.
With the help of DECOPUR®, front panels with intricate geometries can be formed in the same machine clamping unit, decorated at the same time, and fully flooded with polyurethane in the next step. In the process, proven KURZ decoration technologies such as In-Mold Decoration (IMD), hot stamping, Print Mold Design (PMD) or insert molding can be applied with their usual design flexibility and quality and combined with a high-gloss, crystalline and durable finish. This results in smooth, aerodynamic, and hazard-proof surfaces with impressive depth effects and optional backlighting - perfect for automotive applications, as successfully demonstrated by the award-winning Integrated Front Panel at the SPE Automotive Award 2024. This component is characterized by its innovative, only 0.3 mm thick PUR coating. It is weather-resistant, durable, and self-repairing, making it ideal for outdoor use.
The next step towards greater efficiency and a lower CO2 footprint
Most recently, KURZ has set itself the goal of further developing DECOPUR® and making the technology behind it more efficient and flexible. On the one hand, the range of possible substrates has been increased, and on the other hand, KURZ has succeeded in significantly reducing material consumption, which also has an impact on production costs. The advanced process reduces energy consumption by combining several production steps into one, thus reducing the carbon footprint. “DECOPUR® is a production-ready solution for the mobility of tomorrow and the next step towards even more efficient and scalable technologies for automotive manufacturing”, explains Martin Hahn, Head of Application, Technology & Innovation of the Business Area Plastic Decoration at KURZ.
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KURZ Rear End Cover: A revolutionary design for the mobility of the future
In addition to the front panel concept, a Rear End Cover component from KURZ received the Nomination Award in the ‘Enabler Technology’ category, subcategory ‘Part & Component Design.’ This exterior concept for the rear end impresses with its revolutionary design. The futuristic design integrates fascinating 3D light effects with targeted light shielding, color gradients, and day/night designs. What’s more, the smooth, seamless surface and the sensor foils attached to the back enable convenient touch operation. Thanks to the Shy Tech design, the smart touch functions only become visible upon activation. Additionally, the surface design allows for radar and 5G-enabled metallization, which supports car-to-X communication and paves the way for autonomous driving.
In addition to its trend-oriented design, the KURZ concept also impresses with its innovative and production-ready one-shot production process. This enables fast and cost-efficient production including finishing in just 60 to 70 seconds. Thanks to In-Mold Electronics (IME), it is also possible to integrate ultra-thin touch sensors in the same work step. In the manufacturing process, a 2K material mix of two different types of plastic - opaque and transparent, with targeted light shielding - is used. Nevertheless, the component as a whole can be recycled and reused as a post-industrial compound. It is also possible to use recycled materials in production.
The KURZ subsidiaries Schöfer, Burg Design, and PolyIC, which were involved in the project, played a significant role in the development and component production of the advanced rear application. “Our Rear End Cover impresses with its visionary design, intelligent functions, and a cost-efficient and resource-saving multi-component layer structure. The honorable award for the component once again underscores KURZ's innovative strength and pioneering design”, says Martin Hahn.
