Valeo has chosen to work in particular with organosheets. These high-performance composites are made of a fabric of long glass fibres embedded in a thermoplastic matrix and their carbon footprint is smaller than that of aluminium. For a bumper beam, for example, they can offer gains of up to 80 per cent less CO2 equivalent, with an additional weight saving of 12 per cent. These materials offer great rigidity which provides excellent resistance to impact, essential for passenger safety but also to protect the battery of electric vehicles. The properties of this material open many opportunities to integrate technologies such as LiDAR or lighting supports by guaranteeing the stability of light panels and radars on the front.
Francisco Moreno, President of Valeo Thermal Systems Business Group, explains that the composite materials open amazing opportunities for the automotive industry and Valeo is proud to be one of the pioneers in their use. Today, its structural parts made of organosheet materials are in series production and the company keeps on innovating to develop new innovative materials and applications. The composite materials will enable them to develop new affordable solutions and services for safer and greener mobility.
Valeo will present its latest innovations for the vehicle chassis as well as its solutions for structural parts already in series production:
● The organosheet crossmember is the world’s first structural part made of thermoplastic composite materials for mass production. In series production since 2018, it offers a weight reduction of around 30 per cent.
● The first organosheet case for the battery holder (48V) has been in series production since 2020. It offers a weight saving of 40 per cent compared to a metal solution. This concept applies to the battery cases but also to the front cases.
● The front bumper beam is under development with several customers and offers an average weight saving of 30 per cent.
At the Parc des Expositions de Villepinte from April 25 to 27, Valeo will be present for the third consecutive year at JEC World, a trade show dedicated to composites.