Quote Of The Day: It's Plastic, It's Fantastic

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

“Exterior vehicle parts that have been replaced with plastic materials include front-end modules, beams and brackets, trunk lids, deck lids, body panels and floor panels. More plastics are being used in air-bag containers, pedals and seat components. Plastics are applied to the powertrain in the air inlet manifolds, air ducts and resonators, chain tensioners and belt pulleys, oil pans and sumps, cylinder head covers, and mechanical torsion damper components. Some gears and pump components are also becoming more plastic-friendly.”

From “Plastics outperform metal in automotive applications,” ICIS.com

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Psarhjinian Psarhjinian on Jan 12, 2011

    And today's choice for "Bait the Luddite" goes to...

  • Frizzlefry Frizzlefry on Jan 12, 2011

    ...why is it that if the black plastic body molding on my car gets rubbed or scratched by some idiot in a parking lot, its white underneath. And if a white car's plastic gets scratched, its black underneath? Aside from maybe matching the plastics color with the paint so inevitable little scratches don't stick out like a sore thumb, I like plastic.

    • Zackman Zackman on Jan 12, 2011

      The quickest way to turn black plastic into white is Nu Finish and car wax! Don't do it!

  • Daviel Daviel on Jan 12, 2011

    Is this Hard Plastic? Thank God it's not on the inside if it's hard plastic - it'll get a cheapness review here that will spill over and bolster the negative design criticism!

  • Uncle Mellow Uncle Mellow on Jan 12, 2011
    "Plastics are applied to the powertrain in the air inlet manifolds, air ducts and resonators, chain tensioners and belt pulleys," Quote. Plastic tensioners for cambelts are the reason Opel/Vauxhall engines used to self-destruct , resulting in poor sales for current models - customers wont get fooled again. VW have been using plastic water-pump impellers , which don't last very long either. Once it fails the engine boils , the head warps , etc etc.
    • Joeaverage Joeaverage on Jan 14, 2011

      Been there. Fortunately I saw the temp rising and fortunately the aftermarket replacement could be gotten with a steel impeller.

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