Webasto Supplys First Panorama Roof with Infrared Absorption

Webasto Supplys First Panorama Roof with Infrared Absorption
A heat-absorbing panorama roof made of shatterproof polycarbonate brings
more light into the interior and creates a sense of greater spaciousness in
the smart fortwo.
Stockdorf/Munich – January 12, 2015. Webasto is manufacturing the fixed panorama roof for
the third generation of the smart fortwo. The 1.2. square meter, transparent roof panel is made
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of the lightweight material polycarbonate (Makrolon from Bayer MaterialScience). The roof
system admits a lot of light into the interior, creating a pleasant, generous sense of space for
the passengers. Visually, it is a perfect extension of the front windshield.
Milestone in Comfort Due to Infrared Absorption
The technical highlight of the roof system is its ability to absorb solar energy and thus prevent
the interior from heating up too much. In a nutshell, the IR rays stay where they belong: outside.
This is made possible by infrared absorbers integrated in the polycarbonate – more specifically,
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into the granulate the panels are made of. The product Makrolon AG2677 in the temperaturestable, heat-absorbing color 771079 is being used on the new smart for the first time.
The infrared absorption is also beneficial from an ecological point of view. If the interior doesn’t
heat up as much, there is less need for cooling from the air-conditioning system. And this
reduces fuel consumption. With this innovative roof, Webasto and Bayer have reached another
milestone in passenger comfort.
Around 50 Percent Lighter Than Glass
The material is extremely impact resistant, weatherproof, and lightweight. A roof made of
polycarbonate can be up to 50 percent lighter than a glass equivalent. The plastic panel on the
new smart fortwo weighs only 9.8 kilograms. Due to the low weight, not only is the fuel
consumption of the small city car reduced. The roof also has a positive influence on the driving
dynamics, as it shifts the vehicle’s center of gravity further down.
The roof is manufactured by means of two-component injection-compression molding. The
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second component is the black-colored polycarbonate ABS blend Bayblend T95 MF. It enables
the integration of additional functions such as screw bosses on the bottom side of the roof.
Attached to them is the infinitely adjustable fabric roller blind used to control the brightness of
the interior.
A coating layer makes the panorama roof resistant to scratching and weathering influences. The
roof system is the world’s largest injection-molded, transparently coated car roof with an infrared
absorber.
Webasto manufactures the polycarbonate roofs in its own lightweight competence center in
Schierling near Regensburg. Bayer MaterialScience supports its customer in the development
of this roof with a complete service package for automotive glazing, consisting among other
things of simulation calculations for the mold filling and thermal expansion, material
development and selection, testing technology and analytics, as well as process technology.
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Über Bayer MaterialScience:
Mit einem Umsatz von 11,2 Milliarden Euro im Jahr 2013 gehört Bayer MaterialScience zu den weltweit größten
Polymer-Unternehmen. Geschäftsschwerpunkte sind die Herstellung von Hightech-Polymerwerkstoffen und die
Entwicklung innovativer Lösungen für Produkte, die in vielen Bereichen des täglichen Lebens Verwendung finden. Die
wichtigsten Abnehmerbranchen sind die Automobilindustrie, die Elektro-/Elektronik-Branche sowie die Bau-, Sport- und
Freizeitartikelindustrie. Bayer MaterialScience produziert an 30 Standorten rund um den Globus und beschäftigte Ende
2013 rund 14.300 Mitarbeiter. Bayer MaterialScience ist ein Unternehmen des Bayer-Konzerns.
About Webasto:
Webasto Group based in Stockdorf near Munich has been a family-owned business ever since the company was
founded in 1901. The group operates internationally at over 50 locations (over 30 of these production sites) in the
divisions roof and thermo systems. Webasto is one of the top 100 automotive suppliers worldwide. For 2013 the Group
realized a sales volume of more than 2.5 Billion Euros and employs over 10,000 employees. The company´s core
competencies encompass the development, production and sales of complete roof and convertible systems as well as
heating, cooling and ventilation systems for passenger cars, commercial and special vehicles, recreational vehicles and
boats. For more information please visit www.webasto-group.com
Contact for the press:
Webasto Group
Petra Diederichs
Vice President Corporate Communications
Tel: +49 89 8 57 94-670
E-Mail: [email protected]
Dr. Petra Gulz
Group Manager Corporate Communications
Tel: +49 89 8 57 94-650
E-Mail: [email protected]
Bayer MaterialScience
Dr. Frank Rothbarth
Tel. +49 214 30-25363
E-Mail: [email protected]
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