Negative Thermoforming

Benefits of Negative Thermoforming:

  • Excellent Grain Reproduction
  • Consistent Grain
  • Multiple Grain Patterns
  • Crisp Lettering
  • Improved Fit and Finish
  • Integrated Air Bag Doors
  • Cost-Effective

Automotive manufacturers looking to improve the showroom quality of their vehicles can look to Visteon’s Cockpit Modules as one way to improve the consumer's first impressions of the vehicle interior. One of Visteon's innovative processes, Negative Thermoforming, enables the delivery of Instrument Panels and Cockpit Modules that improve interior quality and craftsmanship, are easy to recycle and are cost-effective.

How it Works
The first step of the manufacturing process involves heating the thermoplastic olefin skin. The heated skin is then drawn into a nickel tool, which shapes the skin to fit the instrument panel and imprints the grain and lettering through vacuum pressure. Once the skin is shaped and grained, it can be attached to the substrate of the instrument panel.

Negative Thermoforming enables the grain to be reproduced onto the skin material better than competing processes, creating a highly crafted instrument panel with crisper lettering and multiple grain patterns. When compared to powder slush molding, it is a cost-effective solution that can help manufacturers provide luxurious quality across a wide range of platforms.

Improving Craftsmanship
Creating more consistent grains and providing crisp lettering improves the consumer’s perception of the interior materials, helping vehicle manufacturers create distinctive interiors that surround consumers in comfort and quality. Negative Thermoforming also helps improve fit and finish by allowing designers to create sharp corners and better-defined lines. Additionally, integrated air bag doors can be used, resolving the longstanding concerns with fit and finish as well as color and gloss match.

Global Capabilities
With a strong global footprint, Visteon has the ability to design, engineer and manufacture quality Cockpit Modules near the customers' assembly plants on multiple continents. In addition, Visteon maintains the knowledge and experience to manage all of the system areas included within the Cockpit Module.

Visteon Cockpit Modules – cost-effective, consumer-inspired solutions that provide global vehicle manufacturers the brand-differentiating design they desire.

Additional Information
Product Specifications - Cockpit Modules
Product Specifications - Instrument Panel
Feature Story - Cockpit Modules Design and Modeling
Feature Story - Cockpit Modules Testing
Feature Story - Cockpit Modules
Feature Story - Systems Integration Helps Deliver Just-in-Time
Feature Story - Mold-in-Color Instrument Panel
Capabilities - GENPAD®
Capabilities - In-Line Vehicle Sequencing
Capabilities - Instrument Panel Manufacturing