A new collaborative agreement between Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc. (MSC) and the Fraunhofer Project Center for Composites Research at Western University will reportedly bring a total solutions approach to high-volume, lightweight composites for the North American automotive market. The research collaboration agreement between MSC and the Fraunhofer Project Center combines the state-of-the-art technology and capabilities of both partners. Development will be oriented particularly toward total solutions for the mass production of lightweight composites solutions serving the automotive sector.

The Fraunhofer Project Center (FPC) at Western University is a not-for-profit partnership between Western University and the Fraunhofer Society, Europe’s largest research and development organization for composite materials and their associated manufacturing technologies.

“This partnership makes new processes such as HP-RTM or D-SMC lines much more accessible to the North American automotive industry as both the state-of-the-art systems and equipment will be available,” said Rich Myers, chief technology officer for MSC. The company will also use the Fraunhofer Project Center’s facility and equipment for its own independent research and product development with customers.”

For more information, visit www.momentive.com or www.fraunhofer.de.