Aimed at addressing the key automotive industry challenge of lightweighting, this product is said to offer features, such as low and stable pricing, product consistency at high volume, and superior electrical and mechanical properties.

Panex 35 properties

According to Zoltek, the new product can be a tremendous value addition to automotive original equipment manufacturers, as it is said to be easier to comply with the US government’s stringent fuel economy standards by employing Panex 35.

Panex 35 is produced through a combination of a textile fibre precursor with a distinctive, high-throughput process and is available in various forms, including continuous tow, chopped fibre, milled fibre, carbon fabrics and felts, prepreg tapes, and pultruded profiles.

 “Panex 35 commercial-grade carbon fibre stands out in terms of capacity, quality, consistency and low cost (less than $19/kg),” said Sunney Fotedar, Frost & Sullivan research analyst. “Panex 35 applied to sheet moulding compound applications enables the production of lighter parts and improved surface finish.”

Strong and elastic

Panex 35 also demonstrates enhanced tensile strength and higher modulus of elasticity and volume resistivity, which make it more suitable for use in the functional components in automobiles.

Zoltek has also developed a new low-cost Epoxy TowPreg for dry winding of CNG tanks. This product is said to have found uptake among companies seeking to manufacture hood and trunk inner structures, traditionally manufactured using stitch preforms.

“Zoltek’s competitive advantage, derived through its strong position in the wind energy industry, will enable the company to deliver value to its customers,” noted Fotedar. “Even though Panex 35 has higher material costs than steel and glass fibre, it can substantially lower tooling, maintenance, and machinery costs, and ultimately, increase the profit margin for the customers.”

Frost & Sullivan Award

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed an innovative element in a product by leveraging leading-edge technologies. The award recognises the value-added features/benefits of the product and the increased ROI it offers customers, which, in turn, increases customer acquisition and overall market penetration potential.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

www.zoltek.com