A joint assembly comprising at least one extruded profile member and at least one molded member connected to the profile member by an injection molding process. The extruded profile member comprises at least one pre-processed structured surface area adapted to increase grip between the profile member and a molding tool during the molding process. A method for forming a joint assembly is also disclosed, comprising the steps of comprising: inserting an extruded profile member in a molding tool, the extruded profile member and/or the molding tool having a structured surface area to increase the friction between the molding tool and the extruded profile member; clamping the molding tool and bringing the structured surface in contact with the molding tool and/or the extruded profile member to hold the profile member in place, and injecting material into the molding tool to produce a molded member connected with the extruded profile member.

A method of forming a trim panel is provided. The method including the steps of: placing a non-woven mat of material in a heating press; heating the material to a predetermined temperature; applying a decorative film to a first surface of the heated material to create a bilaminate; placing the bilaminate layer into a cavity of a tool such that the decorative film is facing the cavity; heating the cavity; and injecting a thermoplastic resin into the tool such that the thermoplastic resin is adhered to a second surface of the material, the second surface being opposite to the first surface.

The invention comprises a sealing and cover strip (8) for the B-pillar (7) of a passenger vehicle (1) comprising a support cover (10) and a decorative cover (9), each of which has a sealing half of a sealing profile for a lowerable side window on at least one of their common longitudinal sides. The present invention improves a sealing and cover strip (8) in such a way that the assembly effort during production of the vehicle is reduced and the optical appearance is improved. This follows from the fact that each sealing profile (11, 12) comprises two sealing halves (13, 14 and 13, 14), respective halves (13, 13) being integral with the decorative cover (9), and respective halves (14, 14) being integral with the support cover (10).

A weatherstrip manufacturing method is a method for manufacturing a weatherstrip which includes a trim portion where an insert is embedded. The insert includes short connecting portions that connect strips at substantially regular intervals, and a long connecting portion having a larger length than each length of the short connecting portions. The method includes an extrusion molding step for covering the insert with a polymer material, a cut-off portion forming step for cutting off a part of a long interval portion including the long connecting portion in the long interval portion where the long connecting portion is embedded to form a cut-off portion, and a cutting step for cutting the cut-off portion in a crossing direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction to divide the weatherstrip in the longitudinal direction.

A method of manufacturing a material strand (100), particularly for sealing, trimming or fastening of doors (11) or windows (12) of a motor vehicle (10), comprises the steps of: a) extrusion of an extruded strand (200); b) testing the extruded strand (200) after the extrusion, thereby identifying first segments (210) comprising manufacturing defects (211) and second segments (220) being free from manufacturing detects; c) cutting out the first segments (210) from the extruded strand (200), thereby causing faces (222) at the second segments (220); d) joining cut faces (222) of second segments (220) to obtain a joint (102) and to form a material strand (100), the joint (102) having a position within the material strand (100), wherein a minimum distance (d) is maintained between the positions of adjacent joints (102); e) identifying the position of each joint (102); and f) forming a transport unit (110) having a predetermined maximum length by winding the material strand (100).

A component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The component may comprise a structural substrate comprising a fiber panel and a structure comprising a resin. The fiber panel may comprise a thickness along a periphery; the structure may comprise a border of the structural substrate along the thickness of the periphery of the fiber panel. The periphery of the fiber panel may comprise an edge; the structure may be formed on the edge. The fiber panel may comprise a compression-formed fiber panel. The fiber panel may comprise a plurality of fibers and a resin configured to bind the fibers. The structure may comprise a feature providing an ancillary component; the feature may comprise a molded resin. The structure may be formed in a hole in the fiber panel. The component may comprise at least one of a center console; floor console; door panel; instrument panel; headliner; overhead console; sun visor.

A laminating device and method for laminating a decor layer onto a carrier part includes a lower tool with a support region for receiving the carrier part, an upper tool including a pressing surface for exerting a pressing pressure onto the decor layer which is arranged between an upper side of the carrier part and the pressing surface, and at least one movable slider for edge-folding an overhang of the decor layer around an edge of the carrier part by way of pressing the slider against the overhang of the decor layer. A distance between the lower tool and the pressing surface can be enlarged or reduced. The lower tool includes a first membrane, wherein the arrangement of the first membrane and the slider to one another is such that the first membrane is movable onto the slider, for pressing the slider against the overhang of the decor layer.

Injection molded articles having improved scratch resistance and reduced gloss change after heat and UV aging are disclosed. The article is formed from a molding composition having a melt flow index of 50-350 g/10 (230 C., 2.16 kg) as measured by ASTM D1238-04, the composition consisting essentially of: a) 15-80 wt. % of a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer having a melt index of at least 12 grams/10 minutes according to ASTM D1238 at 230 C. and 2.16 kg weight; b) 10-60 wt. % of a polypropylene having a melt flow index greater than 300 g/10 min, measured under 230 C./2.16 kg according to ISO 1133-1; and c) 5-25 wt. % of a thermoplastic vulcanizate having a Shore A hardness from 60-90 (15 sec, 23 C.) as measured according to ISO 868. The article has a gloss increase after 10 days of aging at 120 C. of less than 100%, relative to an initial gloss, as determined by PSA D47 1850.

A trim component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The trim component may comprise a fiber panel comprising a compression-formed component and a structure comprising a resin. The compression-formed component may provide a structural substrate. The structure may comprise a border (e.g. edge, dimensionally accurate border, etc.); the structure may comprise a molded feature (e.g. rib, ridge, edge, ancillary component, etc.) configured to reinforce and/or support the fiber panel. The fiber panel may comprise a resin to bond the fibers; the structure comprising a resin (e.g. injection-molded plastic/material) may be bonded to the fiber panel. The trim component may comprise a cover for the structural substrate provided by the compression-formed component.

A trim component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The trim component may comprise a fiber panel comprising a compression-formed component and a structure comprising a resin. The compression-formed component may provide a structural substrate. The structure may comprise a molded resin feature for the structural substrate formed in at least one hole of the fiber panel. The structure may reinforce the structural substrate. The structure may also comprise a border. The fiber panel may comprise structural fibers and a resin. The structural fibers may comprise at least one of natural fibers; synthetic fibers; glass fibers; carbon fibers; polymeric fibers. The resin may comprise at least one of thermoplastic resin; polypropylene; acrylonitrile butadiene styrene; polycarbonate; thermoset resin; epoxy; polyimide; polyester; vinylester. The component may comprise at least one of a center console; a floor console; a door panel; an instrument panel; a headliner; an overhead console; a sun visor.