New Delhi – Netplast has increased production of its PU foam-based range to meet increased demand. The Kanpur-based company has experienced a surge in orders for PU foam-based fitments and parts from automotive OEMs, who are looking to reduce the weight of the vehicles they produce.
Speaking at the Auto Components trades show in New Delhi last week, Netplast senior manager Sharad Mishra said to Urethanes Technology International: “Earlier we used to manufacture 400,000 PU foam parts largely having application in cars but, with the demand surge, production has been hiked to 600,000 foam parts per month from the year 2021. These moulded PU foam parts have application in NVH [noise, vibration and harshness], under the bonnet [hood] and bumper.”
Netplast manufactures a wide range of moulded foams for use in engine compartments and doors. The under-bonnet components are manufactured with specially formulated ISF (integral skin foam) material in single pieces, and supplied with adhesive liners and clips for ease of assembly. The speciality foam has high temperature resistance, and reduces cabin noise. The company also supplies low-VOC foam for vehicle interior applications.
Netplast’s moulded foam parts are mostly used in cars but, Mishra notes, they are now gaining traction in the commercial and industrial vehicles sector: “There is still reluctance from tractor companies in using foam parts but recently usage of foam parts is increasing in tractors also.”
Netplast operates five sites in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh: one for for PU moulded products, one for fabrication and seat assembly, one for powder coating, and two for injection moulding of parts.
Recently it has won an order from the state-owned Uttar Pradesh State Transport Corporation to supply in-cabin seats for 600 Tata Marcopolo buses. Netplast will supply 52 passenger seats and two crew seats for each bus. The company salso upplies seat foams for two- and three-wheel vehicles, to seating manufacturers Adient India and TM Automotive Seating Systems, and exports PU foam-based NVH parts to European automotive OEMs.
Netplast imports PU raw material for NVH applications, and processes in-house according to customer requirement. Mishra said: “We process around 30t of PU foam each month for application in NVH parts and commercial vehicle seating system.”
