KraussMaffei Group GmbH and Chinese plastics processor Guangzhou Echom Technology Co. Ltd. have formed a partnership to try to promote the German company's Skinform thermoplastic coating technology in China's automotive and electronics industries.
Echom, based in Guangzhou, has invested in a Skinform system for its headquarters facility for trials and small-scale production, and the two plan a joint push, according to Aug. 1 news release from Munich-based KraussMaffei.
"Echom is a customer of ours, but with this strategic partnership we are working together with them to position the technology in the Chinese market," company spokeswoman Simone Werner said in an email to Plastics News. "Echom and its Chairman Xian Ran have the connections to the uprising automotive suppliers and OEMs that will have to be convinced of this new technology."
KraussMaffei said Skinform covers a thermoplastic part in a layer of polyurethane to improve the appearance, feel or functionality, such as better scratch resistance or giving the plastic a leather-like feel.
Werner said the companies plan to jointly present Skinform technologies to Echom customers in the the automotive, electronics and other industries.
KraussMaffei claims that the Skinform process reduces the cost of manufacturing high-quality components by 30 percent compared with traditional processes.
KraussMaffei said in the statement that it plans to exhibit its Skinform partnership and other technologies in polyurethanes at the PU China trade show, to be held in Nanjing, from Sept. 10-12.
Echom did not respond to a request for comment.
PU China is organized in part by Crain Communications, the parent company of Plastics News.