SALIENT Reaches Secondment Milestone with Recent SMA Processing Exchange

Written By JOSE F PAPI

Mr Sylvio Knipper, Member of the SALIENT Team and employee of thermoPre ENGINEERING GmbH and Mr Marc Neubert of LSE GmbH discussing the results of the embroidery trials with SMAs

The SALIENT Project is excited to announce the successful completion of a secondment by Mr Sylvio Knipper of thermoPre ENGINEERING GmbH, hosted by LSE-Lightweight Structures Engineering GmbH in Chemnitz, Germany, from 14–15 November 2024.

This secondment marks a significant milestone for the SALIENT Project, as it achieves the KPI target for secondments, demonstrating the project’s commitment to collaborative knowledge exchange and innovation in lightweight engineering.

The secondment centred on advancing the use of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) in embroidery technology, with discussions and evaluations focusing on:

  • Variation options for backing and embroidery materials – Analysing how different material combinations impact processing.

  • Suitability of SMA for embroidery technology – Exploring the compatibility of the selected SMA with precise laying techniques.

  • Limitations of embroidery technology – Identifying challenges and areas for improvement.

  • Ecological and economic aspects – Evaluating the sustainability and cost-efficiency of using embroidery technology in SMA applications.

The close collaboration between LSE GmbH and the SALIENT team provided valuable insights into integrating SMA into active components of the Front-End-Structure (FES). New material combinations and specialised laying techniques were developed, enabling optimised processes and improved results.

The SALIENT team extends its gratitude to LSE GmbH for their expertise and support in refining embroidery processes for SMA applications.

With this secondment, the SALIENT Project has successfully achieved its key performance indicator (KPI) target for professional exchanges, highlighting the collaborative spirit and impactful knowledge exchange driving the project forward in the automotive industry.

 
JOSE F PAPI
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