Skip to content

12% Lighter Sunroof Frames & 24% Cost Cut with Thermylene™ PP-GF45%

APNA Thermylene led to significant cost savings for this sunroof application.

Introduction

Sunroof frames must combine stiffness, UV durability and low VOC emissions in one molded assembly. Traditional PET-GF/MF-35 grades deliver rigidity but add weight, require lengthy drying and risk surface degradation. Thermylene™ PP-GF45% offers a glass-filled polypropylene solution that cuts frame mass by 12%, reduces component cost by 24% and simplifies molding—all while delivering UV stability and low VOC output ​.

Weight & Cost Savings

By converting sunroof front- and rear-beam frames from PET-GF/MF-35 to Thermylene PP-GF45%, teams achieve a 12% mass reduction per frame and 24% lower component cost versus LGF PP, ASA or PBT alternatives ​. Those savings flow directly into material-spend reductions and lighter assemblies without any tooling changes.

Capex Reduction & Ease of Processing

Thermylene PP-GF45% eliminates the need for extensive drying equipment and secondary coatings, delivering a 47% capex reduction on processing infrastructure ​. Its no-dry requirement and engineered flowability let molders fill complex beam geometries in a single shot, reducing cycle variability, energy use and maintenance downtime.

UV Durability & Low VOCs

Thermylene PP-GF45% grades are formulated for excellent UV performance and emit low VOCs during molding—addressing both exterior-component longevity and environmental-regulation targets without extra post-treatments ​.

Sustainability & Circularity

Switching to Thermylene PP-GF45% cuts annual resin consumption and eliminates energy-intensive drying steps, reducing embodied CO₂ and plant energy use. Its halogen-free polypropylene base supports straightforward end-of-life recycling, helping sustainability teams hit lightweighting and circularity KPIs in one material swap.

Next Steps

Stop over-engineering your sunroof frames with heavy, high-VOC grades. Contact our technical-sales team now to:

  • Request Thermylene™ PP-GF45% samples for your existing sunroof molds
  • Review simplified processing guidelines—no drying or coatings needed
  • Plan a trial run to validate 12% weight and 24% cost savings

Ready to improve the performance of your parts in automotive applications?   Contact us today to learn more about how our engineered plastics can power your next project.

Help Us. Help You

Superior Performance. White Glove Service. Unrivaled Support. Learn Why Switching to Asahi Kasei Plastics North America's materials is Stress-Free.

Share:

Tom Hanvey

\
Tom Hanvey is the Associate Director of Marketing & Sustainability at Plastics North America. Before joining APNA, he worked as the Senior Marketing Manager for Asaclean Purging Compounds. He's worked in the plastics industry for over 10 years and focuses on recyclable resins and on the inbound marketing side, providing easy-to-digest content to Tiers and OEMs looking for an edge on their competition.

tom.hanvey@akplastics.com

 

Comments

\