3M Design Flexibility Options for Auto Interiors

Flexible design means adapting to whatever challenges turn up during the design and production phases. Using new materials, attaching different materials to each other, evolving customer needs – change truly is the only constant. 3M understands the importance of manufacturing flexibility and we can help you build it into your designs up front as well as manage any challenges that come along during the production phase. Here are some examples of ways we can help.

New and different materials are constantly being researched and introduced as engineers continually strive to create stronger, lighter and more sustainable solutions. Natural materials are gaining popularity, and new plastics including soy-based foams and polylactic acid bioplastics are also an option. There are other new technologies where final wrinkles are being ironed out, and of course still more that are just at the idea stage. At 3M we develop bonding and joining technologies to assemble new materials. If you’re wondering about the best way to bond something new, we may already know - and if not, our team of application engineers enjoys challenges and can work with you to find a solution.

Assembling a vehicle isn’t just about putting together pieces made of the same material, it also involves attaching dissimilar materials to each other. We work hard to figure out ways to attach very different substrates, including tapes and adhesives that bond to LSE plastics. We may have already encountered your particular combination before, or our world-class application engineers will provide the necessary support to help identify possible solutions for your specific needs.

The quality of the riding experience has become increasingly important to drivers and passengers. One of the most obvious changes is sound – both engines and interiors have gotten quieter, and the introduction of electric cars has helped increase this as a customer expectation. Continuing this trend means absorbing or damping unwanted sounds and improving the quality of sounds the rider wants to hear, such as entertainment or conversations. We make automotive tape, adhesive and vibration damping material to address NVH issues as well as 3M™ Thinsulate™ Acoustic Insulation to help absorb noise. Our experts in materials and acoustic package design can also work with you to create the optimal acoustic experience.

Personalization is a trend that is becoming more popular for more components – rather than choosing a car that will look like every other car of the same make and model, customers can choose personal touches, particularly for the automotive interior where they spend the most time. These might take the form of trim attachments or even the fabric or style of the seats and other surfaces, which could lead to bonding challenges. 3M can help you choose tapes and adhesives that will work with a broad range of substrates, enabling you to offer greater variety in personalization.

A new part supplier or even just a process change at a current supplier can create challenges. For instance, a new mold release agent might improve a process further up the line, but now that new agent makes the part more challenging to bond. The solution could be a different tape or adhesive, or some change in the production process might be enough. Our engineers can work with you to understand the specific challenge and options for addressing it.

We have people and production facilities around the globe, and we deliver the same reliable quality and assistance whether you need them in Asia, Europe, North America or South America. We have a network of application engineers worldwide who see challenges clearly and unite to find world-class solutions. And if you move production of certain items between different locations, you can be assured that 3M will deliver the quality you need to keep the lines running.

In short, 3M doesn’t just make products, we don’t just understand bonding and acoustics, we don’t just consult on design solutions. We do all of these things. By delivering unparalleled quality, value and service, our product diversity and technological expertise have helped 3M gain our reputation for being the total solutions provider that we’re known as today. Contact us to learn more about how we can help with your particular design challenges.