TROY, Mich., Oct. 15, 2014 – Inteva Products’ All-Olefin, Soft-Skin, Stitched Full Instrument Panel System has been named a finalist in the prestigious 2015 Automotive News PACETM Awards.
This game-changing instrument panel system is the industry’s first complete instrument panel with complex geometry that delivers a premium look with lower-cost, lower-mass materials.
The system resulted from five separate innovations in materials, process and technology.
First, Inteva’s patented InteatherTM material is a unique formulation with the softness and pliability needed for wrapability, critical to manufacturing full instrument panels as single systems. It is also the first system that contains all-Olefin material, allowing for lower weight and a more easily recycled product solution than other systems on the market.
Inteva’s innovative forming and “contour-stitching” processes provide the appearance of a cut-and-sewn full instrument panel system while reducing manufacturing time from 2 to 3 hours to minutes. Inteva designed and developed new robotic sewing processes that facilitate a seamless three-dimensional stitch path for the full instrument panel. The patented manufacturing process allows for both press bonding and press lamination – the first time press lamination and press bonding have both been possible for complex systems like a full IP.
“Inteva is focused on meeting our customers’ need for the premium look and feel that their customers are drawn to, while offering superior cost and weight performance,” said Inteva Products CEO and President Lon Offenbacher. “With our All-Olefin, Soft-Skin, Stitched Full Instrument Panel System, we have been able to combine a higher-end cut-and-sew look and feel with lower mass and increased sustainability at an affordable price.”
Sponsored by Automotive News, Ernst & Young and the Transportation Research Center, Inc., the 21st annual PACETM awards honor “superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance among automotive suppliers.” Finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges and announced Monday, Oct. 13. Winners will be announced in Detroit on April 20, 2015.
About Inteva Products, LLC
Inteva Products, LLC employs more than 11,500 people in 18 countries focused on delivering high-quality products, on time and on budget. Inteva has global resources for engineering, manufacturing and customer service for Closure Systems, Interiors Systems, Motors and Electronics, and Roof Systems. Inteva is focused on sustained global growth, providing excellent customer service and being a best place to work for employees. The company is headquartered in Troy, Michigan USA. Please visit http://www.intevaproducts.com/.
Media Contact:
Karen J. Manardo
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