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IM of Technical Component

Injection moulding of fiber-reinforced thermoplastics enables the production of high-strength, lightweight technical components with excellent stiffness, impact resistance, and process efficiency.

IM Highlights

Injection Moulding of Fiber-Reinforced Technical Components

Long & Short Fiber Parts

Long and short fiber parts can be manufactured with excellent structural integrity and consistency.

High Process Stability

High process stability in automated mass production with repeatable quality output.

Optimized Weight-to-Performance

Optimized weight-to-performance ratio for demanding structural applications.

About IM

High-Performance Thermoplastic Solutions for Structural Applications

Injection moulding of fiber-reinforced thermoplastics enables the production of high-strength, lightweight technical components with excellent stiffness, impact resistance, and process efficiency.

Thermoplastics are commonly reinforced with short or long glass fibers, typically ranging from 15–50% fiber content, while advanced structural applications may require fiber contents exceeding 60%.

This Integration Ensures

  • Improved stiffness and strength compared to unfilled materials
  • Optimized weight-to-performance ratio
  • Flexibility in material formulation and reinforcement strategies
  • Reliable performance under dynamic loads and vibration
Injection Molding Machine — Ram and Screw mechanism for fiber-reinforced thermoplastic processing
Injection Molding Machine — Ram and Screw mechanism for fiber-reinforced thermoplastic processing
Process Flow

Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Processing in Injection Moulding

1

Plasticization

Fiber-reinforced thermoplastic pellets are plasticized in a wear-protected plasticizing unit

2

Screw Geometry

Special screw geometries reduce fiber breakage and material degradation

3

Injection

Melt is injected into mould cavity with optimized flow control

4

Compression

Injection compression and tailored mould design improve fiber integrity

5

Ejection

Component is cooled and ejected as a structural part

Note: Advanced plasticizing units ensure consistent process parameters and extended machine life.
Value Proposition

Why Fiber-Reinforced Injection Molding?

Semi-Structural & Impact Resistant

Long-fiber solutions are particularly suited for semi-structural and impact-resistant automotive components, providing exceptional durability under real-world conditions.

Enhanced Mechanical Performance

The use of long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic pellets (12–25 mm fiber length) significantly enhances the mechanical performance of structural components.

Fiber Retention During Processing

Specialized processing solutions ensure that the reinforcing advantages of long fibers are retained during plasticizing and mould filling for optimal performance.

OEM Applications

Typical Automotive Applications

Fiber-reinforced injection moulding is widely used for semi-structural and load-bearing components:

Seat Shells
Instrument Panel Supports
Door Modules
Front-end Carriers
Technical Under Hood Components
Structural Interior Panels
300,000 – 600,000
Typical annual production volumes per application
Key Benefits

Advantages, Material & Production Benefits

Key Advantages

  1. Proven and familiar processing technology
  2. Injection compression moulding improves fiber orientation
  3. Fully automated production capability
  4. Lower fiber content can achieve similar stiffness → weight reduction
  5. High durability under dynamic loads

Material Benefits

  1. Flexible reinforcement strategies (short or long fibers)
  2. Wide supplier ecosystem for materials
  3. Adaptability to fillers and reinforcement systems
  4. Stable and repeatable process conditions
  5. Improved impact resistance
  6. Reduced material usage through reinforcement efficiency

Production Benefits

  1. Short cycle time
  2. Fully automated production capability
  3. Special screw designs minimize shear and fiber damage
  4. Optimized hot runner systems reduce thermal and mechanical stress