IAC begins production of lightweight acoustical solutions in the Czech Republic

International Automotive Components (IAC) announced that its new Prestice 2 production facility in Prestice, Czech Republic, is fully operational and has started producing its lightweight injection moulded inner dash insulation for superior interior acoustical performance for two premium European OEM customers. With the future start of a major door trim programme, the facility is expected to reach full capacity in 2018.

The new 18,000 m² (193,750-square-foot) facility also currently produces trunk trim and dash insulation components for the 2016 European Car of the Year, the Opel Astra. IAC’s Prestice 2 plant is located approximately 2 km (1.2 miles) away from the Prestice 1 facility, which is the company’s European Center of Excellence for Overhead Products.

The site produces IAC’s injection moulded dash inner which provides an estimated 40 % weight reduction compared to a conventional vacuum-formed product. According to the company, the IAC injection moulding process provides exact, reliable, forming of lighter inner dash insulation without compromising acoustic performance, and it also delivers better mass distribution to match the acoustic hotspots within the component. IAC also has developed the customised injection moulding resin to fulfill the requirements of the two premium customers.

Injection moulded dash inner insulation complements IAC’s offer of lightweight acoustical insulation products, which also include the sprayed polyurethane dash inner technology. Polyurethane sprayed inner dash insulation with back foaming reaches weight reductions of about 20 % coupled with a superior acoustic performance, says the company. For the past few years, PU sprayed dash inner insulation has been in production at IAC Spartanburg, SC, USA, and IAC Straubing, Germany, where it just debuted on the new luxury SUV Maserati Levante.