Gerhardi selects Elix ABS P2MC for EV front grille
Gerhardi has selected Elix ABS P2MC for a two-component front grille used in a new premium electric vehicle from a German manufacturer. The material is designed for chrome-plated parts with demanding surface and dimensional requirements.
Gerhardi GmbH has selected Elix ABS P2MC for the front grille of a new premium electric vehicle from a leading German automotive manufacturer. The ABS grade, developed specifically for chrome-plated components with demanding design requirements, is produced by Elix Polymers S.L., a European manufacturer of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers. The newly developed grille has a complex two-component design manufactured using a demanding injection moulding and electroplating process. It combines a wide chrome surround with a mesh structure featuring a smoked-glass effect, making the component a distinctive element of the vehicle's brand identity. In addition to the standard chrome-plated version, an illuminated variant is available. It incorporates 942 individually backlit points intended to create a high-tech appearance and reinforce the premium positioning of the vehicle.
Material properties for moulding and electroplating
Gerhardi selected Elix ABS P2MC after the material met the project's requirements for adhesion, surface quality and dimensional stability. These properties are critical for the grille's complex geometry and surface finish. According to the companies, the grade has already been approved by several automotive OEMs and has been used as a benchmark material for a number of years.
The optimised flow characteristics of Elix P2MC allow the mould to be filled quickly and uniformly while limiting internal stresses. This supports part quality and dimensional consistency during the production of the two-component grille.
Long-term cooperation
Gerhardi and Elix Polymers have worked together for many years, with the cooperation covering the supply and development of thermoplastic materials for demanding electroplating applications. Elix materials are used in numerous automotive components across a range of vehicle platforms.
"We have an excellent supplier relationship and consider Elix Polymers S.L. a valuable and reliable supplier and development partner for our demanding technical projects and objectives," said Jose Manuel Tola Edel, Strategic Buyer at Gerhardi.