Toronto-based Integran Technologies Inc. (Integran) today announced further advances in its "structural metal plating-on-polymer" technology (Nanovate™ NP) for enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by enabling the cost-effective manufacture of lightweight transportation parts.
Under development for several years, Integran's nanometal-polymer hybrid core technology is protected by a number of patent filings including US 8,367,170 which issued on Feb 5, 2013 and EP 2,193,664 which issued on Feb 20, 2013 disclosing lightweight metal-coated polymer electric and electronic housings for use, e.g., in automotive electronic control units (ECUs).
Integran's Vice President of Intellectual Property Klaus Tomantschger stated, "We are pleased that our developments relating to structural plating-on-polymer parts have been recognized in the patent jurisdictions of Europe and the United States as these remain dominant regions for advanced automotive technology development."
Integran's President & CEO Gino Palumbo added, "Our technology can be used to replace a variety of electric and electronic housings in modern automobiles providing lightweight parts with superior impact-resistance and appropriate EMI shielding. Manufactured by combining the two conventional high volume production processes of injection molding and electroplating, we envision this technology to see widespread use in modern vehicles which typically contain between 75 and 100 ECUs. The technology is expected to be particularly relevant to hybrid electric and plug-in electric vehicles, which in addition to the typical low voltage electronics, contain a myriad of high voltage & power electrical and electronic subsystems. Our Nanovate™ metals technology is also particularly effective at mitigating lower frequency magnetic interference from electric motors."
Source: http://www.integran.com/