CSP Victall to make lightweight parts for China-made vehicles

CSP Victall (Tangshan) Structural Composites Co celebrated its opening in Tangshan city, Heibei province on Oct 18 and expects to supply its composite parts to all automakers.

"This is truly a win-win relationship. CSP expertise in composites and manufacturing, and Victall is a successful Chinese company in the rail industry. We will see tremendous opportunity in lightweighting, especially at this moment when China pushes toward vehicle electrification," Frank Macher, chairman of the board of CSP Victall and CEO of CSP, said.

The two parties agreed on the joint venture in 2014 and started working together. The companies joined hands in equipment procurement and facility renovation.

Scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2015, the manufacturing facility will feature 3,000- and 4,000-ton presses, a direct long fiber thermoplastic line, advanced sheet composite compounding line, robotic routers and the latest in dust control technology, including a centralized vacuum system and dust booths.

"We are expecting to develop to be the leading composite material provider in China, and in the coming three to five years to supply all of the local vehicle manufacturers, up to about 400 companies," Larry Baer, COO of CSP Victall, said.

"At the first stage, we are investing in equipment and training; at the second stage, we will bring in the patents and get prepared for local procurement and local production," he said.

The 50-50 joint venture between US Continental Structural Plastics and Victall Track (Group) Co's first composite parts plant covers an area of 38,000 square meters, boasting first-class equipment. It will provide eco-friendly, lightweight composite materials and products for sedan, truck and bus manufacturers and construction machinery industry.

Composite parts in automobiles not only protect against rust, but also are 40 percent lighter than metal parts. The material replaces the metal parts with complicated molding and welding processes, which saves 50 percent to 70 percent in costs for car manufacturers, according to Baer.

"Victall has established the internationalization and diversification strategy, and CSP Corporation has unique advanced technologies and management experience, so the partnership will help lift Victall’s level and drive lightweight progress in China’s automotive industry," Sun Hanben, chairman of Victall Track (Group) Co said.

CSP is a world-leader in the compounding and manufacturing of advanced composite technologies. It has strong capabilities in composite materials research and development, and more than 50 patents and proprietary technologies.

Victall is a professional group company providing module production and components and parts for high-speed railways and inter-city trains.