Johnson Controls Introduces New Foil Process for Two-Color Door Panels

FRANKFURT, Germany, September 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Johnson Controls showcases innovative production process for a two-color surface on door panels at the IAA

At the 65th IA Johnson Controls,a global leader in automotive electronics and interiors, will debut a new two-color door panel innovation at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. This process  enables a two-color surface on a one-piece carrier with higher quality and lower cost than products currently available. The precise positioning of the color-split line within a groove eliminates the need for an appliquécovering, resulting in a high-quality appearance, found mostly in the premium segment, at a lower cost.

Instead of having to assemble two parts with different colored cover stocks,  Johnson Controls' solution results in a multicolor, one piece panel with a contoured design line. The typical practice to achieve two color door panels has been to produce two different colored panels and assemble them together. The poor quality of the joint between the two colors often required a costly appliqué to be placed over the joint. Johnson Controls' two color innovation provides a high quality joint line with precise positioning into a groove in the door panel carrier. Simulation and tooling technology employed during development ensure a consistently high quality finished product at a lower cost than today's two-color solutions.

"We believe this is a highly efficient production technology and that there is significant market potential for the new two-color foil process," said Han Hendriks, vice president, Advanced Product Development for Johnson Controls' Automotive Electronics & Interiors. "This simple, cost-saving technology enables two-color solutions with a high-quality appearance in lower vehicle segments."

Future applications using foil made of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) are also possible. The optimized process for producing two-color door panels not only offers the benefits of reduced weight, costs and logistics outlay, but also considerably improved noise-vibration-harshness and crash performance.
The patented two-color foil process from Johnson Controls will be available for model year 2016 vehicles.

Johnson Controls will present its innovations from Sept. 12 - Sept. 22, 2013, at the IAA in Hall 5.1, Booth B28. Johnson Controls will hold a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 10:00 a.m.

Digital images are available online from http://www.johnsoncontrols.co.uk/press.

Picture is available via epa european pressphoto agency ( http://www.epa.eu/ ) and can be downloaded free of charge at: http://ots.de/VuuuU

Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 168,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful.

Johnson Controls Automotive Experience
Johnson Controls Automotive Experience is a global leader in automotive seating, overhead systems, door and instrument panels, and interior electronics. We support all major automakers in the differentiation of their vehicles through our products, technologies and advanced manufacturing capabilities. With more than 240 plants worldwide, we are where our customers need us to be. Consumers have enjoyed the comfort and style of our products, from single components to complete interiors. With our global capability we supply more than 50 million cars per year.

For more information, please contact:
Johnson Controls Interiors Management GmbH
Jagenbergstrasse 1
41468 Neuss
Germany
Automotive Electronics & Interiors
Astrid Schafmeister
Tel.: +49-2131-609-3028
E-Mail:astrid.schafmeister@jci.com
Internet: http://www.johnsoncontrols.co.uk