From the Sector

OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers in the field of electric powertrains are under increasing pressure to improve performance, efficiency, and scalability of their drive systems. One key enabler now reaching industrial mass-production: composite-based rotor sleeves. These lightweight, high-performance components offer significant advantages in terms of mechanical containment of rotor components to achieve more efficient designs for high-speed rotation – especially in demanding automotive, aerospace and industrial applications. 

Following nine months of collaborative research, a consortium of 15 leading companies – Arkema Group, Covenstro Deutschland AG, DOMO Engineering Plastics Europe S.p.A., Hexcel Composites SASU, Huntsman Advanced Materials, Hutchinson SA CRI, Kümpers GmbH, LG Electronics Deutschland GmbH, Maru Hachi Corporation, Rassini Supensiones S.A. de C.V., Schunk Kohlenstofftechnik GmbH, Swancore Netherlands B.V., Syensqo, Toray Carbon Fibres Europe S.A., Toyota Motor Europe N.V./S.A.  – has completed a comprehensive analysis and benchmarking project led by AZL Aachen GmbH. The project systematically analysed the state of the art, compared materials, design strategies, and processing methods for rotor sleeves made from thermoset and thermoplastic carbon fibre composites. The result is a comprehensive market and technology analysis, documented in a 384-page final report – and ready to be implemented into cooperations.  

To support OEMs and motor developers in leveraging these findings, AZL is now hosting a dedicated web meeting – designed specifically to demonstrate the practical relevance, supply chain maturity, and technology details of composite rotor sleeves for electric drives. Participation is free of charge. 

The event will provide a strategic overview of the technology’s capabilities and will highlight the concrete potential for integration into series production. It starts with an introduction to the current state of the technology and its role in enabling the next generation of electric motors. AZL will then present the consolidated results from the project’s work packages. Key insights include comparisons of rotor sleeve designs (press-fit vs. direct-wound), material classes (thermoplastic and thermoset carbon composites), mechanical and thermal performance benchmarks and production KPIs.  

In the second part of the meeting, participants will get the opportunity to meet the consortium behind the recently finished project – from composite material suppliers and machine manufacturers to rotor sleeve producers. Each partner will briefly pitch their unique expertise and offerings, helping OEMs identify reliable contacts for implementation projects.  

Fabian Köster, Development Engineer Composites at Schunk Kohlenstofftechnik GmbH, explains: “As a technology leader and high-volume manufacturer in the field of rotor sleeves, Schunk considers it essential to actively shape innovation. Our participation in the AZL project reflects our strong belief that future viability and competitiveness can only be secured through early involvement in technological developments. The AZL info event offers OEMs and partners across the entire value chain a valuable opportunity to exchange insights on the current state of rotor sleeve technologies, explore emerging trends, and collaboratively develop solutions for tomorrow’s challenges.”  

For OEMs, this event provides not only an update on emerging technology, it also offers direct access to a ready-to-engage partner network. It also marks the official launch of a follow-up experimental project. 

This follow-up initiative will shift from theoretical analysis to experimental validation. Its goal is to benchmark the performance of different material and process combinations under real-world production and operating conditions. 

The follow project includes four work packages. The first work package will define the production concepts and materials to be tested experimentally, including the design of test methods and auxiliary equipment for press fit operations. The second work package is targeting a production process consisting of separate winding and press fitting on the rotor. It includes manufacturing of sleeves using wet winding, towpreg winding and thermoplastic tape winding. Strength testing of the sleeves will consider different prestress levels, while also the quality of the laminate will be evaluated. The third work package will do the same, but in this case for a process, directly winding on the rotor. Evaluation will also include high temperature testing and long-term durability. Finally in the fourth work package all process and strength test results will be evaluated on cost, quality, and performance, leading to benchmarking of various materials, and clear recommendations for cost efficient rotor sleeves. 

The web meeting, hosted on September 25th, is open to OEMs, motor developers, innovation managers, and system integrators seeking to accelerate their next electric powertrain generation. A registration link will be provided for all interested participants. Contact Philipp Fröhlig (philipp.froehlig@azl-aachen-gmbh.de) for a registration link.

Circular textile technology specialist RE&UP supports BESTSELLER’s women’s brand ONLY in launching a new jersey program of basic tops made from next-generation recycled polyester. The first styles are already in stores. 

Using its modular recycling technology, RE&UP transforms post-consumer and factory textile waste into fibers that meet the same performance standards as virgin materials. In ONLY’s initial production run, over 11 styles were converted to RE&UP’s Next-Gen Polyester, equating to more than 100,000 t-shirts – demonstrating that recycled fibers can be cost-competitive and ready for large-scale adoption. 

Turning end-of-life textiles into fibers ready for mainstream fashion, proving circular solutions can scale today. By integrating recycled fibers into mainstream collections, ONLY sets a benchmark for other brands seeking circular solutions. 

“This project proves that scaling the production of recycled polyester from textile waste is achievable. Transforming the industry is undoubtedly a complex and lengthy process, but initiatives like this demonstrate we are making progress,” says Ozgur Atsan, Chief Commercial Officer at RE&UP. 

"RE&UP shares our dedication to innovation and quality, and their Next-Gen textile-to-textile recycled polyester meets the high standards we set for our products," says Pernille Tøttrup, Sourcing Process Manager at ONLY. 

RE&UP’s technology separates polyester and cotton in end-of-life garments and regenerates them into fibers that maintain durability and performance – all while keeping materials in a true textile-to-textile loop. By reducing reliance on virgin polyester, RE&UP is supporting the industry lower its environmental footprint and showing that scalable, circular solutions are already achievable.

Teijin Automotive Technologies, a European subsidiary of Teijin Ltd., a Japanese global leader in advanced composite solutions, and Aeronautical Service S.r.l., an Italian technology company specialized in innovative ceramic composite materials, have entered into a strategic alliance aimed at accelerating the industrialization of high-temperature resistant components based on proprietary ceramic matrix composite (CMC) technologies.

Under the agreement, Teijin Automotive Technologies has acquired, for its European facilities exclusive production rights in the automotive sector and extended production rights in the marine, aerospace, and industrial sectors. Aeronautical Service (AS), licensing its proprietary technology “FireAlt”, will provide high-temperature resistant, fireproof, and lightweight material formulation.

This collaboration represents a strategic milestone for both companies and aims to:

• Industrialize and standardize the production processes for ceramic matrix composites;
• Scale production to meet international demand from European facilities;
• Jointly develop functional applications;
• Jointly promote the resulting solutions to global institutional and industrial customers.

The use of FireAlt makes a major step forward in enabling energy-efficient, corrosion-free and structurally robust solutions across a wide range of industries. Traditional composite materials, while offering significant weight and performance advantages, have been limited by their fire resistance. With this new generation of high-temperature ceramic matrix composites, it is now possible to design and manufacture structural components, that combine the benefits of lightweight composites with full fire-protection. It opens the door to new applications in transportation, infrastructure and beyond.

The materials at the center of the agreement meet the most stringent international standards (including ISO 2685, EN45545 HL3, A60, and IMO non combustibility certifications), offering exceptional resistance to temperatures up to 2000°C with no smoke or toxic emissions. Combining the innovative ceramic formulations with Teijin Automotive Technologies wide range of industrial production solutions for composite parts, allows the cost effective, high volume production of fireproof components.

“We are proud to partner with Aeronautical Service to bring their groundbreaking technology into serial production,” said Uwe Brinkmann, General Manager of Teijin Automotive Technologies Europe. “This alliance reinforces our commitment to innovation and sustainability in the materials science space, while expanding our capacity to serve all industries.”

“This agreement validates years of research and development,” said Kris Bordignon, CEO of Aeronautical Service. “Teijin's industrial strength and global reach are the ideal match for our licensing model and deep technological expertise. Together, we will reshape the future of fireproof composite applications.”

It’s time to dance to the Rhythm of Blues™ and celebrate AkzoNobel’s Colors of the Year 2026 – an upbeat and versatile color family that’s calming, connecting and creative.

There’s a trio of shades for next year – the light blue Mellow Flow™, the dark blue Slow Swing™ and the vibrant Free Groove™ – so everyone can find a style that works for them. The harmonious collection of signature indigos is just what we need in our homes, according to the results of the company’s extensive annual trend research.

“With everything that’s happening in the world, we see that people are reacting in various ways,” explains Heleen van Gent, Creative Director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center. “They’re either slowing down and recharging their batteries, wanting to feel in tune with others and celebrate kinship. Or they’re choosing to be bold, have fun and feel carefree.”

She adds that the three color palettes will help create living environments that fit everyone’s individual decorative needs. “To reflect these various moods – and because we understand that color is emotion and therefore personal – we’ve chosen a family of colors for 2026. They’re centered around three different rhythms that offer endless scope for changing the pace of your space.”

The colors, textures and special effects that take center stage in the Rhythm of Blues collection have been designed to strike a chord in a wide range of markets. Along with decorative paints, inspirational palettes have also been created for the aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, metal furniture, lighting, cabinetry, flooring, building products and architecture markets.

“We pride ourselves on setting the tone together with architects, interior designers, trend specialists and product developers – who all make important contributions to our in-depth research,” says Daniel Geiger Campos, Global Director of AkzoNobel’s Decorative Paints business and member of the Executive Committee. “Our Rhythm of Blues family is perfectly in tune with evolving trends in various industries and will help us deliver market-specific solutions to customers so they can more confidently apply their own style to their projects.” AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center has been translating trends into desirable colors for more than 30 years. Its annual ColourFutures trend forecast meeting brings together in-house experts, international architects, designers and journalists to share insights into how our reactions to the world around us impact our color choices.

At the forthcoming ITMA Asia + CITME exhibition in Singapore, specialists from a 20-strong delegation of British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) companies will be on hand to discuss some of the highly advanced industries they are now actively supporting.

The manufacture of medical sutures, for example, is a very specialised process and because these items are implanted directly into the human body, every stage of production is tightly controlled to ensure safety, sterility and reliable performance.

Absorbable sutures are usually made from polymers that degrade safely within the body, such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid or polydioxanone, while non-absorbable sutures use durable materials like nylon, polypropylene, polyester, silk or even stainless steel. All of these must be of medical grade and fully biocompatible.

The UK’s Fibre Extrusion Technology (FET) is a world leader in both the fibre selection and production technologies behind this industry and in Singapore will highlight a groundbreaking new parallel technology for the medical sector based on supercritical CO2. Further developments in the field of automation and control in advanced fibre production will be highlighted by BTMA members including Autofoam, James Heal, Roaches, Strayfield, Verivide and Wira Instrumentation.

AFP and ATL
From the micro to the macro, sophisticated aerospace technologies such as automated fibre placement (AFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) meanwhile involve the precise placement of carbon fibre tapes or tows on a mould surface, which are then cured to form lightweight yet strong components. 
AFP allows for complex geometries by steering individual tows, making it ideal for fuselage sections, wing skins and other curved structures. ATL, on the other hand, is more efficient for larger, flatter surfaces such as wing covers or stabilisers, where wider tapes can be laid down at high speed with minimal gaps or overlaps. Together, these technologies significantly reduce material waste, improve repeatability and deliver structural performance beyond what traditional hand lay-up methods can achieve.

The UK’s Cygnet Texkimp has developed a new technology to greatly assist this industry which will be unveiled in Singapore.

Collaboration
“High value industries such as aerospace, defence, renewable energy, automotive and the medical sector are areas of high growth and opportunity and an important factor underpinning the success of our companies here is the strong collaboration between industry and the many universities and institutes in the UK,” says BTMA CEO Jason Kent. “Machine builders can also be important in driving material developments as well as technologies.”

UHMWPE
A good example of this is the flexible new process for manufacturing ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) that will be introduced in Singapore by FET.

UHMWPE is prized in many industries due to its extraordinary properties, being for example, ten times stronger than steel by weight. It is increasingly used in medical implants, but the current systems for manufacturing it are on a huge scale, with very complex processing routes.

This restricts the opportunity for new product development – a disadvantage that is fully addressed with FET’s series lab and small scale gel spinning system, which is already industrialised.

“We have supplied many extrusion systems to the biomedical market and in exploring what else we could do for the same customers it became clear that there was a need for smaller quantities of UHMWPE fibres in bespoke sizes.” explains FET Managing Director Richard Slack. “We believe our introduction of a patented batch system for solvent extraction exploiting supercritical CO2 is a game changer.”

Early stage development
Cygnet Texkimp has meanwhile just introduced a next-generation, production-scale prepreg tape slitting machine at its UK Innovation Centre in Northwich.

This enables organisations to trial the slitting of continuous thermoset, thermoplastic and ceramic prepreg tapes for AFP and AFL processes in real-world conditions using their own materials or those produced on Cygnet Texkimp’s in-house R&D prepreg machines on the machine. The technology can slit tapes at speeds of up to 60 metres per minute, subject to the input material.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer partners the opportunity to engage with us at an early stage in process development, to test out their concepts, explore machine parameters, assess output quality and validate performance with support from our expert team,” says Graeme Jones, wide web product director at Cygnet Texkimp.

Splicing portfolio
Also providing back up services to the aerospace industry is Airbond, with splicing technologies which ensure resource efficiency in the processing of extremely expensive carbon and aramid fibres. Pneumatic yarn splicing is a process established in the textile industry for joining yarns and works by intermingling individual filaments closely together, to make joint which are stronger and flatter than knots.

“We are continuing to find new partners in the wind turbine, hydrogen and aerospace industries and are doing a lot of developmental work with research institutes and universities,” says technical director Carwyn Webb. “This is leading to us expanding our portfolio and we are currently working on systems for carbon tape splicing, for example, as well as an automated system for full weaving beams.”

Further developments for the technical textiles and composites sectors will be showcased by BTMA members including Garnett Controls, Roaches International, Slack & Parr and Tatham.

Spirit of openness
“Many BTMA members are currently developing new technologies, either in-house or increasingly through joint projects, and we have much to reveal in Singapore,” says Jason Kent in conclusion. “There’s a new spirit of openness and adventurous interaction in the UK right now – especially in the fields of advanced fibres and technical textiles – which is very encouraging for the future.”

eVent® Fabrics, a leader in breathable waterproof, weatherproof, and windproof laminate technologies, announced that their super light, fast, and highly breathable stormburstLT laminate is now available to cyclists through a partnership with Italy’s Alé Cycling.

eVent introduced the PFAS-free stormburstLT laminate in early 2025. While other brands have adopted the new laminate, the partnership with Alé represents the first time this high-performance laminate will be available to cyclists.   

Purpose made for fast and light adventures, eVent’s stormburstLT is lightweight, highly breathable, has stretch, and repels light rain and snow. Designed with high-output activities and adventure travel in mind, the PFAS-free laminate technology allows heat and moisture to escape ensuring comfortable protection, especially when conditions suddenly change.

eVent partners with apparel manufacturer ITTTAI, an Italian company specializing in premium manufacturing and technical fabrics, dedicated to providing maximum comfort to athletes. ITTTAI provides European-based clients with a variety of services and materials, including eVent’s stormburstLT laminate, to create high-performance, ultra-modern apparel such as Alé’s new FAN and TRACCIA jackets.

“Our stormburstLT laminate is ideal for high intensity activities and our partnership with Alé will give cyclists an incredible option for high performance weather protection,” said Chad Kelly, President of eVent Fabrics. “stormburstLT is a perfect laminate for cycling apparel, providing the right blend of breathability, dynamic movement, and weather protection to keep cyclists comfortable and performing at their best in challenging weather conditions.”

Alé’s FAN jacket for men and women offers warmth, breathability, and water repellency. With a temperature range of -3 to 6℃ and designed using Alé’s Body Mapping system, this light, high performance jacket is engineered to actively protect cyclists from the elements. Ideal for winter use, eVent’s 3-layer laminate fabric is combined with a highly breathable, quick-drying fleece liner, featuring a three-dimensional hexagonal structure. A DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment across the entire surface provides protection against light rain.

Alé’s TRACCIA jacket for men is a slimmed down version of the FAN jacket, made for warmer weather and more intense rides. The TRACCIA’s lighter weight fabrics and specialized body mapping to create a high-performance top that better dissipates excess heat, making it ideal for fall and spring riding when temperatures are between 0 and 12℃.

With sleek styling and a unique color palette, the sophistication of these jackets is matched by a range of technical features, including raw-cut cuffs with an aerodynamic profile that seal in warmth and fit comfortably under gloves, a rear hem designed for better grip and to keep the jacket in place, and reflective branding for increased visibility.

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, is accelerating the textile industry’s transition to lower-carbon materials with its scalable, high-performance bio-based PET fibers and yarns under the deja™ Bio portfolio. 

At the upcoming Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress later in September, Claire Mattelet, Global Sustainability Program Head for Indorama Ventures’ Fibers Business, will share the company’s experience in developing a fully certified, low-carbon supply chain at scale. 

Her presentation will explore several challenges, such as 

• securing reliable sources of renewable feedstocks to produce bio-based PTA and MEG inhouse or sourcing bio-based chemicals such as bio-based MEG from trusted partners 
• converting feedstock into PET chips, yarns, and fibers 
• and navigating complex certification requirements 

As a result, Indorama Ventures is now able to offer customers and brand owners an integrated, fully certified supply chain through mass balance at scale. 

Using a mass-balance approach means that renewable feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, are blended with fossil-based raw materials in existing production systems. 
The renewable content is then allocated to final products using certified methods like ISCC+, ensuring traceability throughout the value chain and compliance with chain-of-custody requirements. 

By leveraging existing infrastructure, coupled with R&D capabilities and proven technologies, Indorama Ventures enables rapid market deployment of bio-based PET fibers and yarns 
that are chemically identical to their fossil counterparts. This ensures customer processes remain the same, performance metrics such as durability, dyeability, and strength are equal to virgin solutions, 
and brand owners and converters can speed up qualification lead times and immediately reduce scope 3 emissions to seamlessly upgrade their existing product lines. 

Indorama Ventures invites brand owners, manufacturers, and industry partners to explore the deja™ Bio portfolio and join the movement toward a lower-carbon textile industry. 
The technology is proven, the supply chain is built. 

Rieter at ITMA Asia 2025: The Fully Automated Spinning MillPrecision, speed and cost efficiency are all indispensable, especially in challenging times. Rieter has put together a powerful portfolio for ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 that gives spinning mills the chance to actively shape the future through intelligent automation. By applying smart machine networking, process optimization and increased production efficiency, the portfolio facilitates the comprehensive transformation of spinning mills while reinforcing their competitiveness. This, in turn, enables customers to further consolidate their leading market positions. At the same time, the portfolio is a key milestone on the way to achieving Rieter’s vision 2027 – the fully automated spinning mill.

Automation and digitization – the smart gateway to the future 
Rieter will be presenting solutions that enable the step-by-step implementation of the fully automatic spinning mill for the production of ring and compact yarn. Highlights include efficient bale transport, automated can transport and fully automatic packaging solutions, such as steaming, palletizing and labeling. In the field of digitization, Rieter offers various ESSENTIAL modules to meet different requirements. This gives spinning mill employees – from management to machine operators – a solid basis for making decisions on how to optimize yarn production. 

Combing preparation – the OMEGAlap E 40 
The new combing preparation machine OMEGAlap E 40 produces 800 kg/h, 33% more than its predecessor – thanks to the rapid lap changing. At the same time, it boasts 30% lower energy consumption and 63% lower compressed air consumption. Maintenance and cleaning are especially easy, representing a clear advantage for operating personnel. 

The precision winding machine NEO-BD – faster and better 
The new precision winding machine NEO-BD produces packages twice as fast as the previous model – and to a higher quality. Absolute precision is guaranteed: from the optimally adjustable package density and the yarn length that can be defined and reproduced with maximum accuracy to the exact weight of each individual package.

Efficient air-jet spinning of carded cotton 
The air-jet spinning machine J 70 is designed for cost-effective carded fiber spinning – a unique feature made possible thanks to a newly developed twist element: it takes the production speed to a new level and ensures maximum return when it comes to raw material utilization. Spinning mills also benefit from the use of this innovation in other raw material applications. 

The spindle that saves energy – eNASA 
The new Novibra spindle eNASA reduces a spinning machine’s power consumption by 2% to 4% compared to conventional spindles. The high-precision technology is particularly effective at high speeds. The new spindle is compatible with all Novibra clamping crowns. 

Technological expertise in recycled yarn 
Rieter works closely with partners and fiber manufacturers on the topic of recycled yarn. As part of this, different projects and end products will be presented. One new way to significantly increase the recycled content of ring yarn involves the use of sustainable, synthetic cellulosic fibers – described in detail in a new technology publication. 

New Rieter Webshop – the smarter, faster way to source spare parts 
The state-of-the-art platform is a smart solution enabling customers to procure spare parts for spinning and winding machines, upgrades and retrofit solutions. The one-stop shop experience simplifies and optimizes ordering for every spinning mill.

With the publication of its first sustainability report, Freudenberg Performance Materials has reached a major milestone on its path toward greater environmental responsibility and corporate transparency. Until now, information about the company’s sustainability performance was only included in the sustainability report of its parent company, the Freudenberg Group. The newly released report, however, focuses specifically on the business of technical textiles.

Sustainability at Freudenberg is deeply rooted in the company’s 175-year history. Freudenberg Performance Materials also aligns with the UN Brundtland definition and aims to minimize waste and emissions while reducing the use of energy, materials, and water. By 2045, the goal is to achieve CO₂ neutrality at all sites (Scope 1 and 2).

In 2024, Freudenberg Performance Materials made significant progress: 

• CO₂ emissions (Scope 1 & 2) were reduced by another 3% – 29% less than in the base year 2020.
• Despite higher production levels, energy efficiency improved by 10%.
• 30% of all purchased electricity came from renewable sources, powering 25 production lines with green energy.
• The share of green energy in the total energy consumption rose by 26% to 13.5%.
• The company’s biggest gas-powered asset was replaced with wet-scrubber technology, resulting in a reduction of approximately 4,000 tons of CO₂.

In addition, Freudenberg Performance Materials has defined medium- and long-term sustainability goals that serve as guidelines for short-term planning and decision-making. In preparation for the upcoming EU regulation “Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation” (ESPR), the company has begun implementing software to calculate the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF).

The automotive industry is facing a profound transformation that goes far beyond electrification. Key future trends include software-defined vehicles, autonomous driving, connected mobility and the ongoing decarbonization of supply chains.

Autoneum is responding to these developments with a clear focus on innovation and sustainability. The company's products are not only suitable for all types of drive systems, but also for the requirements of software-based vehicle architecture. With NVH solutions for quiet interiors, thermal shielding for battery modules, and fully recyclable materials, Autoneum is helping to make the mobility of tomorrow safer, more comfortable and more resource efficient and is now also developing specialized components for battery-powered mobility – with a focus on occupant protection and battery safety.

Sustainability – circular economy in action
Sustainability is a key focus. Autoneum processes over 30,000 tons of recycled PET annually – equivalent to around three billion 0.25-liter bottles. Products such as Flexi-Light PET, Di-Light, and the fully recyclable N-Join1 carpet consist of over 90% recycled material and thus make a measurable contribution to decarbonization and resource conservation.

Flexi-Light PET, a particularly malleable and durable polyester-based acoustic material, provides effective sound insulation in the vehicle interior and is fully recyclable. Thanks to its thermal formability and structural properties, Di-Light not only offers good noise insulation for vehicle carpets, but also a high degree of design freedom – ideal for large-area applications. With N-Join1, Autoneum has also developed a mono-material system that does not require any latex or adhesives. It is made entirely from recycled materials and can be easily recycled at the end of its product life cycle.

"Sustainability is an integral part of our strategy," says Eelco Spoelder, CEO of Autoneum Management AG. "With innovative materials and resource-saving processes, we are actively contributing to the transformation of the automotive industry – and demonstrating that economic success and ecological responsibility go hand in hand." 

New mobility needs new materials
According to forecasts, global sales of electric vehicles will rise to around 20 million units in 2025 – an increase of 35 percent over the previous year. The industry’s transition is also reflected in Autoneum's product strategy. By 2024, more than 115 electric models worldwide were equipped with Autoneum components – and this figure is expected to rise to almost 150 in 2025. Sixty percent of all new orders last year were for purely electric vehicles; a significant increase compared to 35 percent in 2023. 

The company develops highly specialized components for the next generation of vehicles – especially for electric vehicles with new battery architectures. With components such as the Impact Protection Plate, the mica-free E-Fiber Shield, and the acoustically efficient Ultra-Silent, Autoneum demonstrates how safety, lightweight construction and sustainability can be combined in forward-looking materials that meet the requirements of modern electric vehicles. 

The Impact Protection Plate is a newly developed protective plate made of composite materials that combines mechanical strength with thermal insulation. It protects battery systems from impact and contributes to the safety and efficiency of electric vehicles. The E-Fiber Shield is a mica-free flame-retardant material that increases the safety of vehicle occupants in the event of thermal runaway of the battery. It offers high heat resistance (up to 1400°C), electrical insulation, and geometric flexibility. And Ultra-Silent is a robust, lightweight material for frunks and underbodies that consists of up to 70 percent recycled fibers. It combines high acoustic performance with sustainability. 

Local production for global resilience
In an increasingly challenging market environment, Autoneum relies on proximity to customers as a strategic success factor. With its "local-for-local" strategy, the company manufactures at around 70 locations worldwide, right where the vehicles are produced – efficiently, sustainably and independently of global supply chains. "Our local production strategy makes us resilient – even in an environment characterized by trade barriers," emphasizes Spoelder. "Manufacturing directly in the market significantly minimizes cross-border risk and strengthens our operational stability."