An exterior body panel assembly having a Class A painted surface, mold-in color or non-Class A surface, and process of infrared welding components of the assembly. Panels of the assembly are placed on a nesting structure and the inside half of the structures are brought together with the other for a fit check. Panels are separated and an infrared heating fixture then heats the various areas to be heated on the panels. The areas on the panels are heated depending on the thicknesses of the parts at each area and surface geometries to be welded. The parts are immediately clamped back together under pressure for joining and cooling of the joined surfaces in the clamped arrangement.

The invention relates to a punch for punching polymeric motor vehicle components, in particular bumpers, comprising a machine frame (1), at least one device for fixing a polymeric motor vehicle component (2) on the machine frame (1), and at least one punch device (3), wherein the punch device (3) comprises at least one punching tool (4) and at least one punching die (5). According to the invention, the punching tool (4) and/or the punching die (5) is/are fastened to a receiving device (6) of a movable carrier (7, 8), wherein the carrier (7, 8) has at least one further receiving device (6) for fastening at least one further processing apparatus (9, 10, 20, 30), such that the punch can be set to a new, different processing step involving the further processing apparatus (9, 10, 20, 30) by a movement of the carrier (7, 8).

A device for welding plastic materials includes a handheld, wand-type applicator that dispenses a focused stream of oxygen-free air for optimum fusion. The applicator comprises a heating coil that warms the dispensed air to a sufficient temperature to sufficiently meld the plastic materials. A weld air delivery system delivers the supply of oxygen-free air to the weld applicator. A separate coolant air delivery system includes a tank that collects a reserve supply of ambient air that is used to cool the heating coil when applicator is not actively welding plastic materials. The inclusion of separate delivery systems ensures that ambient air is used to cool applicator, whereas oxygen-free air is preserved for use in welding applications. For safety purposes, a switch deactivates the heating coil when the pressure of the reserve air in the tank falls beneath a predefined threshold that is considered necessary to adequately cool the applicator.

A molding apparatus for the production of articles molded through sequential injection includes a mold having a cavity, a plurality of electrically actuated injectors arranged at central, intermediate and end positions, respectively, with respect to the mold cavity, and an electronic system for controlling the injectors for the actuation thereof according to a sequential cycle which provides for opening the central injector first, followed by the intermediate injectors and then the end injectors. The electronic control system is configured so that the opening sequential cycle occurs in such a way to obtain more linear and homogeneous pressure in the mold filling step, and lower packing pressure.

A method uses retrofitably-attachable pre-formed shell to cover exposed areas of existing stamped/formed chrome or painted truck bumpers, providing a unique re-useable decorative/protective plastic shell cover, the edges of which are tucked under the existing trim pieces of the bumper as a main attachment mechanism. The formed shells can be used to cover existing minor damage on the bumper. Light-passing images can be incorporated on the bumper shells, and backlit without changes to the bumper or deviation from the original surface profile of the bumper. Methods of forming the shells include vacuum forming, and include forming a raised perimeter guide, allowing the molded parts to be trimmed using a rotary cutting tool that follows the perimeter guide, thus reducing capital investment and tooling costs.

The invention relates to a sonotrode for an ultrasound welding system for welding workpieces (20, 30), comprising a pressure element (2) which has a contact surface, which pressure element can be applied to carry out the welding process with said contact surface on one of the workpieces (20) to be welded to each other, wherein the contact surface has an annular design. A centering pin axially projecting over the contact surface is arranged inside the annular contact surface. The invention also relates to a method for welding a connection element (20), in particular an adapter for a PDC sensor, to a component (30), in particular an exterior add-on part of a motor vehicle.

A bumper module for a vehicle includes at least one shaped part that is unitarily deep-drawn from a sheet material. The shaped part has two connecting flanges facing a back side for fastening to side members of the vehicle and an arch which is pre-curved towards a front side connecting the connecting flanges. At least in lateral portions of the arch, the sheet material is laid into folds, which are elongated from the back side towards the front side.

The present invention relates to an automotive part (such as an exterior automotive part, a semi-exterior automotive part or an interior automotive part) prepared from a thermoplastic composition comprising: from 48-95 wt. % based on the weight of the composition of a heterophasic propylene copolymer; wherein said heterophasic propylene copolymer consists of i) a propylene-based matrix consisting of a propylene homopolymer and/or a propylene--olefin copolymer, said propylene -olefin copolymer consisting of at least 70 wt. %, and ii) a dispersed ethylene--olefin copolymer comprising ethylene and at least one C3 to C10 -olefin; from 0-20 wt. %, preferably from 1-20 wt. % ethylene--olefin elastomer comprising ethylene and a C3 to C10 -olefin; from 1-30 wt. % high aspect ratio; from 0.05-2 wt. % antioxidant additive selected from the group consisting of i) a tocopherol or a tocotrienol; or ii) a hydroxylamine from 0-3 wt. % an additional additive.

The invention relates to an arrangement with a mounting support for a motor vehicle front end, wherein the arrangement has two supporting elements for supporting a panel/fascia element, wherein the supporting elements are each arranged on one side of the motor vehicle relative to the vehicle center in the transverse direction of the vehicle, wherein the supporting elements are fixed to the mounting support and each extend over a portion of the mounting support in the vehicle transverse direction, wherein the supporting elements project forward relative the mounting support in the vehicle longitudinal direction, wherein a panel/fascia element, which is an external skin element of the front of the motor vehicle and extends predominantly in the vehicle transverse direction, can be supported on at least one of the supporting elements.

A mold for producing a vehicle bumper fascia and methods for releasing the bumper fascia are provided. The mold includes a core mold half having a primary mold core. A first movable mold core is slidingly engaged to the primary mold core. A second movable mold core is slidingly engaged to the first movable mold core. A third movable mold core is slidingly engaged to the second movable mold core. Portions of the primary mold core and the movable mold cores together define cavities for forming the mounting rib, a wing portion, and a wheel well flange of the bumper fascia. Methods of releasing the bumper fascia include the steps of providing the mold, disengaging the movable mold cores from each other and from the primary mold core.