Development of Suede Surface Application Technology for Interior Instrument Panels

Kento Imai･Yushi Shinno (Honda Motor)

In recent years, a variety of decorative expressions have been applied to automotive interiors, utilizing not only synthetic leather and fabric but also suede materials that can convey a higher quality feel. Suede is a material that does not stretch as easily as synthetic leather, which limits the shapes that can be formed. Therefore, when applying it to large and complex shapes like instrument panels, it has typically required part segmentation or the lamination of suede materials, resulting in a more complicated manufacturing process. Additionally, hand application has been common, leading to higher labor and cost requirements.
In this project, we developed a technology that uses conventional automatic application equipment to apply suede materials with a manufacturing cycle equivalent to that of existing synthetic leather surfaces. This allows us to apply suede to complex instrument panel shapes without segmentation, achieving suede-covered instrument panels without changing the existing manufacturing process.

Highly electrical insulating and heat-resistant molding compound using diallyl isophthalate resin

Chiharu Inoue･Ryoichi Igawa (Sumitomo Bakelite)

As electric vehicle systems become higher voltage, their components are required to have higher insulation and heat resistance than ever before. Using diallyl isophthalate resin, we have developed a material that has both high insulation properties with tracking resistance of 800V or more and heat resistance that reaches a glass transition temperature of 235℃. Thin-wall molding using an injection molding machine is also possible, which can lead to smaller parts and higher heat dissipation.

Development of a water-based hard coat material for Plastic Glazing

Mifuyu Niwa･Kentaro Shiraishi･Hiroaki Takanohashi (Asahi Kasei)･Kazufumi Iwai･Daisuke Orihashi (RENIAS CO., LTD)

There is a growing demand for plastic glazing to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel efficiency.  Utilizing our proprietary nano-structure control technology, we have developed a water-based hard coat material with high abrasion resistance equivalent to ECE R43 Class L requirements. In this presentation, we will report on the characteristics and properties of the water-based hard coat material.

Development of a Process Analysis System Using Image Processing (First Report)
-Practical Validation of an Automated Analysis System for Logistics Processes-

Takuma Sugino･Hirofumi Morishita (Toyota Motor)･Gianpiero Francesca･Sven Meier (Toyota Motor Europe)･Kazuhiro Shintani (Toyota Motor)

We are developing a system that enables field workers in the automotive manufacturing process to independently conduct process analysis using AI detection models. In this study, we constructed a system that automatically analyzes the efficiency of logistics transportation processes based on information obtained from cameras. Through comparative evaluation of the proposed system and conventional analysis method under actual operational conditions, we confirmed that the proposed system can achieve analysis with accuracy comparable to conventional method, while reducing the required effort by approximately 90%.