Frankfurt, Germany -- Automotive company Volkswagen AG has become a member of the trade association for plastic foams and polyurethanes, FSK eV. It has taken this step in order to continue to exchange views on technical and processing issues, and also on environmental matters relating to plastics and polyurethane processing, said a 13 July FSK announcement.
FSK has members from raw materials and machinery manufacturers, from system houses, additive supplier and the plastics processors -- all companies in the foam plastics value chain are represented in the membership, says the group.
Also even OEMs such as BMW AG have been part of the FSK for many years, in order to discuss questions about the plastics and so on with automotive suppliers and other plastic processors. FSK members can not only attend the group's traditional technical meetings on "foam plastics," and "Polyurethane" to hear about technical developments and important trends in the business, but also take part regularly in the association's committees on these issues. Test methods for ingredients and emissions are just as important as environmental issues, and chemicals legislation, the association points out.
"Every company certainly has its know-how and its secrets, and communication and looking at the bigger picture beyond can only fertilise ideas and be useful for each industry," commented VW-plastics boss, Bernd Koal, expressing his company's interest in cooperation with enterprises in the FSK. Volkswagen AG itself has one of the most modern plants for production of plastics, especially polyurethane components, the FSK statement said.
Polyurethane machinery expert Jens-Jurgen Hartel noted that the association has more goals for members: "The Association operates active youth development beyond the Polyurethane Innovation Award and has contact with all kinds of universities. This is what we want to support the future and get involved in this dialogue," he commented.
Dr Hans-W Schloz, managing director of the FSK, is confident that Volkswagen AG will take a very active role in the association and is pleased with this new membership of an automotive manufacturer.
PIC: l-r VW's Bernd Koal, and FSK's Hans-W Schloz and Jens-Jurgen Hartel, in front of a VW Tiguan instrument panel"
