Kia Motors opened a composite materials technology center in KCTECH, South Korea, as part of a new collaboration to promote the use of carbon composite parts in the automotive industry.
From Jeonju (Korea), Korea Institute of Carbon Convergence Technology (KCTECH, Gwangju, South Korea) and Kia Motors (Seoul, South Korea) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to accelerate carbon Application of composite parts in the automotive industry. The announcement was made on March 6, but the agreement became effective on January 31, 2019.
According to reports, Kia Motors has opened a Composites Technology Center at the KCTECH Composites Manufacturing Technology Center in South Korea, and the automaker will collaborate with KCTECH to conduct automotive composite parts research. The research will use a Roctool (Le Bourget du Lac, France) LIT (light sensing tool) machine installed inside KCTECH.
Roctool said its LIT technology is a turnkey solution that eliminates the need for high-cost capital equipment such as autoclaves and compression molding presses. The process is reported to use a shell tool with induction heating, which allows high heat and cooling ramps while maintaining high temperature uniformity on the mold surface.
As part of the research, KCTECH opened the LIT Technology Center with Roctool last January. The institute has obtained Roctool's KCTECH electrical and automotive parts design and molding process capability certification.
According to reports, Jeonju is becoming a leader in the carbon industry. KCTECH plans to conduct an international research program with the company to develop mass production processes for large automotive composite parts.