Clariant's Hydrocerol® Chemical Foaming Agents Add Value to Automotive Sector by Reducing Weight and Costs

Clariant has launched Hydrocerol^® chemical blowing agents, an innovative and advanced-technology product that will add value to the automotive sector. According to figures from the Turkey Investment Support and Promotion Agency, Turkey's automotive sector has recorded significant growth in recent years, becoming the industrial sector that contributes most to the country's treasury. As of end-2016, Turkey was the world's 14th and Europe's 5th largest automotive manufacturer, and has become an attractive destination for direct foreign investors.¹ Clariant's user-friendly Hydrocerol^® chemical blowing agents are making a difference in the automotive sector, whose primary objectives are to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Weight reduction is of major importance to the sector in meeting increasingly stringent fuel economy and emissions standards. Another way to offer lighter solutions is to foam polymers using chemical blowing agents. Hydrocerol^® helps automotive manufacturers reduce the weight of numerous interior and exterior parts without compromising appearance or performance.

Value from Competitive and Innovative Solutions

Clariant's technical expertise and knowledge of its product range enable Hydrocerol^® to deliver excellent performance in diverse applications. Hydrocerol^® endothermic blowing agents are the first choice for foamed automotive plastics due to their numerous benefits. Specialized active substances create fine-celled foam structures that provide excellent mechanical properties and help protect the environment. The savings generated by improvements in plastic processing operations through the use of Hydrocerol^® are even more impressive. Hydrocerol^® shortens plastic processing operations while increasing the productivity of machinery and labor. Hydrocerol^® is one of the finest examples of how Clariant meets customer needs with competitive and innovative products. These advanced-technology products deliver numerous benefits to customers while supporting Clariant's sustainability targets. Hydrocerol^® also carries Clariant's special EcoTain^® mark for environmentally compatible, economical and socio-economic products. EcoTain^® products are economically attractive, cost-efficient through reduced waste generation, offer greater recycling potential, and are produced with more efficient processes. In this way, customers can reach their target formula cost without compromising formula properties. According to annual production results from the Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD) for January-December 2017, Turkey's automotive sector, which has made major progress over the past 10 years, reached its highest historical level in 2017 with vehicle production of 1.75 million units, achieving 14% growth compared to 2016. Since Turkey exports 79% of its automotive production, the sector has transformed from assembly-based partnerships to an independent industry with its own design capabilities and tremendous production capacity.² As production capacity has increased with investments in recent years, Turkey has also secured an important place in the value chain of international original equipment manufacturers. Turkey's automotive sector, which meets international quality and safety standards, continues to maintain high efficiency and competitiveness through value-added production. 1 Turkey Investment Support and Promotion Agency (İSPAT) 2 Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD)