• Roctool’s processing technology show the full benefit of INEOS Styrolution’s StyLight^®, the new generation of aesthetic thermoplastic composites
• Roctool’s technology reduces cycle times and simplifies the process for faster production
• A demonstrator will be presented at Composites Europe and the SAMPE Conference, both in Stuttgart, Germany

INEOS Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, announces a joint development with Roctool resulting in a time-saving manufacturing process for its new generation of aesthetic thermoplastic composite StyLight^®.

Since its introduction at the K2016 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the new StyLight^® composite generated a lot of interest in the industry. Just recently, a partnership with KTM Technologies resulted in innovative design concepts for a selected number of applications in the automotive industry.

Additional interest came in particular from the electronics industry and from high performance sports equipment suppliers.

The cooperation with Roctool addresses the needs to obtain a high performance aesthetic material at high production rates. The induction processing technology is a very good match with StyLight sheets and produces industrially thin wall lightweight parts at a high surface quality with low manufacturing cycle times.

The Roctool technology saves one processing step, as the mold temperature is high enough to thermoform cold StyLight sheets without pre-heating. Optionally using pre-impregnated textiles positioned directly in the mold may eliminate yet another processing step, reducing cycle times even further.

Trials at Roctool were executed with various StyLight Aesthetic S versions. These StyLight versions are available with or without a fleece. They are specifically designed for aesthetic semi-structural applications. The trials resulted in tablet covers with a carbon fiber optic from Hexcel or with a matt black surface reinforced with NCF textile from Saertex.