A plastic composite material panel includes a roof plate portion adhesively bonded to a first bonding portion provided in a vehicle body frame. A roof extension portion extends from an edge of the roof plate portion and is adhesively bonded to a second bonding portion provided in the vehicle body frame.

A fiber block molding apparatus comprising: —a mold having a lower part and an upper part forming between them a cavity for forming a fiber blank into a fiber block article upon closing the mold; —a conveyor system for receiving the fiber blank to be molded at a receiving position, transporting the fiber blank via a heater for activation of a binding agent, and delivering the heated fiber blank into the lower part of the mold at a delivery end of the conveyor system, and —a horizontal position shifting arrangement for shifting the horizontal position of the delivery end of the conveyor system relative to the lower part of the mold between a first and a second position to lay the fiber blank on the lower part of the mold.

A fiber block molding apparatus comprising: —a mold having a lower part and an upper part forming between them a cavity for forming a fiber blank into a fiber block article upon closing the mold; —a conveyor system for receiving the fiber blank to be molded at a receiving position, transporting the fiber blank via a heater for activation of a binding agent, and delivering the heated fiber blank into the lower part of the mold at a delivery end of the conveyor system, and —a horizontal position shifting arrangement for shifting the horizontal position of the delivery end of the conveyor system relative to the lower part of the mold between a first and a second position to lay the fiber blank on the lower part of the mold.

A method manufactures a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced resin molded article by pressing one thermoplastic fiber-reinforced resin prepreg, a plurality of laminated prepregs, or a plurality of prepregs. The method includes: a step in which the temperatures of an upper die and a lower die are set to 170-270° C.; a step in which the prepreg is placed between the upper die and the lower die; a step in which a load is applied to the prepreg so as to deform the prepreg; a step in which the temperatures of the upper die and the lower die are lowered at a speed of 5 to 50° C. per minute; and a step in which, after the upper die and the lower die are sufficiently cooled, the upper die is raised and a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced resin molded article is extracted.

A method manufactures a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced resin molded article by pressing one thermoplastic fiber-reinforced resin prepreg, a plurality of laminated prepregs, or a plurality of prepregs. The method includes: a step in which the temperatures of an upper die and a lower die are set to 170-270° C.; a step in which the prepreg is placed between the upper die and the lower die; a step in which a load is applied to the prepreg so as to deform the prepreg; a step in which the temperatures of the upper die and the lower die are lowered at a speed of 5 to 50° C. per minute; and a step in which, after the upper die and the lower die are sufficiently cooled, the upper die is raised and a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced resin molded article is extracted.

A lightweight and durable window well is composed of a long fiber reinforced thermoplastic (LFRT). The lightweight and durable window well has at least some fibers that are omnidirectional relative to the other fibers in the thermoplastic. Additionally, at least some fibers of the LFRT have a length greater than 40 mm. The window well also has a body having a plurality of ribs interposed between a plurality of wall surface portions. Additionally, each rib is positioned between two different wall surface portions and is defined by a variable height and a variable depth. Furthermore, the wall surface portions have a variable thickness that varies from a minimal thickness of less than 3 mm to a maximum thickness of greater than 5 mm, with the wall surface being thicker near the ribs than at portions furthest from the ribs in the wall surface.

A method for producing a component includes incorporating a molding compound into a tool for producing the component, where the molding compound includes an artificial resin as a matrix and a filler material embedded in the matrix. The method includes compressing the molding compound by the tool and by the compressing forming the molding compound to a green product. The method further includes providing the green product while disposed in the tool with a layer in a sub-region by incorporating a liquid material for producing the layer into the tool and applying the liquid material to the sub-region. The liquid material is a metallic material and the layer is an electromagnetic shielding on the green product.

A method for producing a component includes incorporating a molding compound into a tool for producing the component, where the molding compound includes an artificial resin as a matrix and a filler material embedded in the matrix. The method includes compressing the molding compound by the tool and by the compressing forming the molding compound to a green product. The method further includes providing the green product while disposed in the tool with a layer in a sub-region by incorporating a liquid material for producing the layer into the tool and applying the liquid material to the sub-region. The liquid material is a metallic material and the layer is an electromagnetic shielding on the green product.

A form for a thin reinforced composite material includes a plurality of separate linear fiber strips, each having a rectangular cross section composed of reinforcement fibers. The linear fiber strips laid out in a two-dimensional base layer defining a shape of the form. A first successive layer formed with the plurality of separate linear fiber strips contacting the base layer, the linear fiber strips laid out in the first successive layer interspersed from the separate linear fiber strips in the two-dimensional base layer. A method of forming the form includes arranging the plurality of separate linear fiber strips on a substrate and tacking the plurality of separate linear fiber strips to the substrate with a plurality of stitches. A method of forming a unitary reinforced composite component from the form is further provided. The resulting component having high strength and light weight and being efficient to manufacture.

A form for a thin reinforced composite material includes a plurality of separate linear fiber strips, each having a rectangular cross section composed of reinforcement fibers. The linear fiber strips laid out in a two-dimensional base layer defining a shape of the form. A first successive layer formed with the plurality of separate linear fiber strips contacting the base layer, the linear fiber strips laid out in the first successive layer interspersed from the separate linear fiber strips in the two-dimensional base layer. A method of forming the form includes arranging the plurality of separate linear fiber strips on a substrate and tacking the plurality of separate linear fiber strips to the substrate with a plurality of stitches. A method of forming a unitary reinforced composite component from the form is further provided. The resulting component having high strength and light weight and being efficient to manufacture.