You are going to be talking about the challenges for plastics in the field of E-mobility–can you give us some insight into what you will be exploring?
I will talk about lightweight design, functional materials (e.g. providing EM shielding), reliability and safety with respect to fuel cell applications and, last but not least, about new TPE for fuel cell applications.
What are the biggest challenges facing the elastomers industry right now and how to do you think this conference can address them?
In my opinion, the biggest challenge lies in the transformation of the automotive business from combustion engines to e-mobility. In presenting elastomer applications in the field of e-mobility, the conference can allow an exchange within the community and encourage companies to invest into the technology.
What do you see as the most significant changes coming up in the sector in the next 12-24 months?
The biggest change will be the ramp-up of e-mobility. Nobody knows about exact unit numbers, but I would expect a strong increase at least of hybrid vehicles, which leads to the fact that more and more elastomers in battery-driven cars will have to prove themselves as reliable under practical conditions. This is especially true for fuel cell applications – the unit numbers might be low, but the challenge with regard to reliability is large!
What are you most looking for to about attending the Silicone and Thermoplastic Elastomers World Summit 2019?
I am looking forward to networking, sharing positions and discussing possible solutions with suppliers.
