Recyclable Plastic Body Panels

This project addresses the use of cost effective, light weight and fully recyclable plastic body panels as an alternative to glass reinforced plastic (GRP), currently widely used by manufacturers within the niche vehicle industry.

Phase 1 of this project has satisfactorially established and proved the manufacturing process feasability, including the selection of appropriate material specification, the resolution of design and technical issues and the determination of the appropriate tooling routes to produce vaccuum formed plastic panels for niche vehicle body structures. The project duration is divided into two 6 month phases, Phase 1 has just been completed which addresses the design and manufacturing issues associated with individual panels and the second phase considers the full vehicle body assembly.  This second phase lies outside the Niche Vehicle programme at this time.