Technological watch

Growth slows significantly in Q3 / Focus on cost control and efficiencyA PU roof lining material based on household waste and used tyres is one of the companyâ??s more recent developments (Photo: Antolin)The growth in sales at car components supplier Grupo Antolin (Burgos / Spain; www.grupoantolin.com) slowed down significantly in the third quarter of 2021, compared to the past few months. These figures are a reflection of the global vehicle production, which fell by 19% in that period. Antolin thus expects that it would take the industry longer to recover fully from the pandemic, related chip shortage, and high plastics prices than initially thought. Sustainable growth can only reasonably be expected in the medium term, said the company while presenting the financial figures.
Sales in Q3 amounted to EUR 830m, an increase of 11.2% compared with the same period of the previous year. Accumulated over nine months, the figure is EUR 2.9 bn. EBITDA in Q3 amounted to EUR 39m. The recovery in the nine-month period was 45%, which was also significantly lower than in the first six months, when the figure had trebled. Against this background, Antolin intends to focus more strongly again on cost containment and efficiency measures.
From a technical point of view, the focus of attention will not surprisingly be on new electronic developments for electric vehicles and on weight reduction. Among other things, Antolin is producing a first touch-sensitive operating element with ambient light, adjusted to the surrounding decor. A roof liner of thermoformed polyurethane foam with a high recyclate content should meet the expectations of automotive OEMs in terms of sustainability. The foam substrate, says the company, contains 70% post-consumer waste and scrap tyre material.14.12.2021 Plasteurope.com [249181-0]