Aug 22, 2018   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Hexion Enters New Contract with Fraunhofer Project Center to Jointly Develop Lightweight Composite Technologies for Automotive Applications

Hexion Inc. (“Hexion” or the “Company”) today announced a new three-year contract with the Fraunhofer Project Center (“the Center”) in London, Ontario, Canada, to continue their joint efforts to develop lightweight composite technologies and high performance systems designed to meet the demand of mass produced autos.

Hexion, a leading global manufacturer of thermoset resins, and the Center, which houses production scale parts-making and processing equipment as well as materials experts, have collaborated since 2013 on bringing high-performance materials and processing technologies to automotive manufacturers. These materials and technologies enable automakers to fabricate lighter-weight, higher-strength parts, reducing overall vehicle weight and improving gas mileage and performance. The collaboration has been successful in taking composite solutions into commercial use.

“This new agreement enables us to continue our work with the Center to support applications development using high volume composite manufacturing technologies,” said Stephen Greydanus, Hexion’s manager of automotive application development and technical support. “As automakers seek to lighten vehicle weights, using new composite technologies to replace steel and other heavier materials is increasingly critical to vehicle design and production.”

The Center enables Hexion to work with major automotive manufacturers to test materials and produce parts in a production-scale environment. Hexion has several engineers in residence at the facility, focused on helping automakers develop, test and integrate the latest technologies and materials into their new vehicle platforms. A network of prototype specialists, tool makers and testing firms also collaborate with Hexion and the Center in this work.

Using its state-of-the-art resin systems from the EPIKOTETM Resin TRAC and EPIKURETM Curing Agent TRAC 6000 series, Hexion has collaborated with the Center across a range of composite manufacturing technologies including high-pressure resin transfer molding, liquid compression molding, sheet mold compounding, preforming and injection molding. Working with the Center, Hexion has perfected rapid cycle time production of large parts for heat-resistant under-hood applications using its BAKELITE® engineering thermosets. New product developments address the trend towards electrification of vehicles.

The Center is located on the campus of Western University and is a joint venture between the university and the Fraunhofer Institute of Chemical Technology based in Pfinztal, Germany.

About the Company

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Hexion Inc. is a global leader in thermoset resins. Hexion Inc. serves the global wood and industrial markets through a broad range of thermoset technologies, specialty products and technical support for customers in a diverse range of applications and industries. Hexion Inc. is controlled by investment funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC. Additional information about Hexion Inc. and its products is available at www.hexion.com.