Hutchinson introduces thermoplastic products that replace EPDM door seals

December 20, 2022

HC Plastics News:

French auto parts supplier Hutchinson SA has developed a "thermoplastic" door seal that is 30-50% lighter than EPDM.

According to Olivier Blottiau, Innovation Manager of the Total Group, the new product consists of several thermoplastic compounds, some of which are vulcanized thermoplastics and some of which are elastomers.

The company's executives said that two of the compounds were developed by Hutchinson's internal synthesis team for automotive sealing applications.

“We have our own thermoplastic brand called Vegaprene,” explains Blottiau. “We have a dedicated department. If we can't find materials that meet the quality requirements in the market, our team will develop a new level. ”

Hutchinson introduces thermoplastic products that replace EPDM door seals

The new product has received Jaguar Land Rover's first customer orders: the Velar models launched by Jaguar Land Rover in 2017 and the electric SUVi-pace, which will be sold this year, are using new seals.

Ristonde Montlivault, vice president of business development at Hutchinson, expects demand for new products to grow. Currently, the company can produce this new product at its European, North American Free Trade Agreement, and Asian and Brazilian plants.

De Montlivault said that Hutchinson is in the final stages of procurement and engineering discussions with two other OEMs, but he did not elaborate.

In addition to reducing the car's carbon emissions, it is said that this lightweight profile is also more aesthetically pleasing than EPDM.

According to De Montlivault, this "thermoplastic" material has the characteristics of end-bonding, flocking or grainy surfaces and is castable - ideal for OEMs.

Hutchinson believes that another advantage is that the flexibility of the profiles made with this technology is not possible with conventional EPDM and metal inserts.

In terms of cost, new products are only slightly more expensive than EPDM-based products, depending on the features required.