Sumitomo Bakelite and Grip Metal have entered into a strategic joint development agreement to develop lightweight composite applications. For the automotive sector, the development will focus on Grip Metal’s NRS technology, which enables metal surface modification that creates a mechanical bond between friction material and steel backing plates in brake pads.
“We are delighted to partner with Grip Metal to identify new opportunities where the application of Grip Metal technology in our intelligent hybrid thermoset composite design process can enable significant weight reduction in traditionally ‘out-of-reach’ applications for thermoset composites,” stated Goichiro Kuwaki, CEO of Sumitomo Bakelite North America. “Combined with proven high-volume industrialized processes such as injection molding, these weight reductions can be achieved with lower lifetime cost than current materials.”
“This partnership is very exciting as Grip Metal will enable thermoset composite materials to be integrated with metal and create enhanced reinforced thermoset composites,” added Montu Khokhar, CEO of Grip Metal.
