Innovation in the automotive industry sector

TWI is at the forefront of technological development and, as a result, is recognised as a company that introduces innovative new products into the market place.

• AdhFAST®

  AdhFAST® is a novel, three-in-one fastener, which allows adhesive to be injected through the middle of the device whilst retaining the joint and controlling the gap between the substrates, i.e. the bondline thickness. Find out more.

• Clearweld^®

  Clearweld^® is a technique for laser welding of plastics with an infrared absorbing medium, creating a joint almost invisible to the human eye. Find out more

  The Clearweld^® process was invented and patented by TWI. It is being commercialised by Gentex Corporation. The process uses lasers and infrared absorbing welding consumables that are commercially available.

• Vitolane^TM

  Vitolane^TM technology is an affordable method of manufacturing silsesquioxanes which has been invented by TWI. These chemicals enhance material properties such as improved abrasion resistance, increased resistance to solvents and better barrier properties (the chemical can be tailored to meet specific demands of particular applications) and have shown great promise in applications such as coatings for automotive windscreens. Find out more.

• Surfi-Sculpt^®

  Surfi-Sculpt^® is a revolutionary materials processing technology recently developed at TWI. Using a power beam, a material can be manipulated to give a number of different types of feature or surface type. This has a number of potential areas of application in the automotive sector, including surface preparation pre-joining and improved aerodynamic performance. Find out more.

• Comeld^TM

  Comeld^TM builds on the strengths of Surfi-Sculpt^® to produce stronger joints between metals and composites. Once the join-face of the metal has been manipulated with a power beam, the composite is set onto the metal, either directly or with a layer of adhesive between the two. The resulting joint is significantly stronger than a regular one and, if tested to destruction, fails gradually rather than catastrophically. Find out more.

• Barrikade®

  Barrikade® is a new substance developed at TWI which overcomes many of the heat transfer problems associated with traditional construction materials. Find out more.