ASTAR Carbon Fibre SMC

ASTAR is currently producing CSMC (Carbon Fibre Sheet Moulding Compound) material for the multifunctional spare wheel pan of the new Mercedes-AMG E-Class, moulded by the German company EACC. This part was one of the winners of the JEC Innovation Award in 2017.

The structural part in the rear structure of the vehicle, made with ASTAR CARBKID® CSMC, meets high functional requirements for stiffness, NVH (noise, vibration & harshness) performance and structural integrity in the event of a crash. With CSMC, the weight reduction, compared to conventional steel parts, is of approximately 45%, what makes driving performance improve through a better weight balanced vehicle and can provide a great benefit in fuel consumption, as well as a decrease in pollutant emissions.

CSMC does not only reduce weight, but also cycle times and related costs, as well as scrap, which makes the use of this material even more interesting, not only for automotive applications, but also for a wide range of markets.

This CSMC material is being produced in a new automated production line that ASTAR engineering department has designed with the latest technologies. This new line produces rolls of 1000 kg with a sheet width of 1,5 m, and a capacity of 5.000 tn/year of the best quality CSMC material.