Leverkusen-based automobile supplier Carcoustics, which develops and manufactures acoustically and thermally efficient components, continues to expand. In 2012, Carcoustics opened its first plant in China in Langfang, about an hour's drive from Beijing, and in the coming years will continue to grow its operations here in addition to expanding to other locations in China. Further establishing itself in the Chinese market is one of the company’s strategic goals. China is an important growth market for the automotive industry; nearly every major manufacturer in the European automotive industry manufactures there, often through joint ventures with Chinese companies. Supplier Carcoustics utilises its proximity to major manufacturers such as Daimler and Audi, for whom it produces innovative and customised solutions locally. At its Langfang facility, important core technologies are utilised to meet the challenges of the automotive industry: thermoforming, vacuumforming, polyurethane foams, die cutting and, beginning this year, aluminium forming are the perfect manufacturing processes for producing innovative vehicle components. In order to ensure that the thermal and acoustic provisions only slightly increase the weight of the vehicle, innovative lightweight materials and solutions are used, with aluminium and polyurethane topping the list of materials used.

“These production methods are well-suited to meet the increasing requirements resulting primarily from alternative drive systems like electric and hybrid systems,” says Dr Peter Schwibinger, CEO of Carcoustics. “For example, in terms of acoustics, hybrid vehicles present a real challenge as the drive system itself is very quiet. Even purely electric drive systems require solutions, for example for thermal battery insulation, and Carcoustics can offer them. Ensuring local production promises further growth, which is why we offer acoustically and thermally effective techniques at our major locations worldwide.” Environmental aspects are playing an increasingly important role in vehicle manufacturing. For example, better thermal insulation of the engine compartment slows down the cooling of the drive units and reduces cold starts. This makes it possible to achieve significantly lower CO2 emissions and lower fuel consumption. In this case, intelligent and consumption-oriented temperature management requires effective thermal shielding of the more heat-sensitive parts and components in the engine compartment. 

Carcoustics and its solutions maintain their presence where customers operate their major production sites: the US, Mexico, Europe and even Asia. In Langfang Carcoustics works for Daimler, Audi, BMW, GM, Ford and many major suppliers. The German company’s staff in Langfang are well-trained local workers. Daimler has demonstrated its confidence in Carcoustics by awarding the supplier the contract for the engine compartment package (damping of the engine bonnet and transmission tunnel and engineering the dash panels and partitions) for the new C-Class. Last year Carcoustics was awarded the BBAC Qualified Supplier Award. BBAC – Beijing Benz Automotive Co. – is a joint venture between Daimler and Chinese manufacturer BAIC and is responsible for the production of Mercedes models for the Chinese market.