Hanover, November 15, 2012: Soft-trim material from Benecke-Kaliko is making concept vehicles more comfortable and eco- friendly. A current example is the new e-Bee from Visteon, just presented at the Electronica trade fair in Munich. For the interior of the vehicle, the company relies on the material Acella Eco natural from Benecke-Kaliko which, thanks to its components, is eco-friendly and at the same time makes the seat surfaces more comfortable.
The material, with its high portion of regenerative raw materials is also used in the experimental vehicle from Continental, a mass-produced vehicle modified as an electric car featuring some 40 Continental systems. With its specially-developed greenish-blue color and embossing pattern similar to a computer circuit board, Acella Eco natural optically suits the electric vehicle well while at the same time making it more environmentally friendly.
Acella Eco natural benefits people, the environment, and the climate alike: up to half of this material is made using renewable raw materials, thereby protecting scarce resources. Its environmental life cycle assessment is 14 percent better than that of standard cover materials. It also meets the Oko-Tex Standard 100.
Acella Eco natural is completely free of allergens, thus guaranteeing all vehicle occupants – and especially those with sensitive skin and allergies – healthy-feeling skin. The soft trim’s advantages are particularly noticeable on hot summer days, when more skin is exposed because motorists and passengers tend to be more lightly dressed. Transpiration can then trigger increased transfer of substances to the skin. To prevent these substances from causing irritations to the body and skin, Benecke-Kaliko refrains from using antimony and heavy metals that can potentially be hazardous to health in all Acella Eco products. The materials are low in emissions and odor, ensuring good interior air quality and protection of the environment. Acella Eco is the absolute forerunner in this regard as all solvents and emissions-related softener systems are reduced to an absolute minimum. In keeping with the respective demands of customers, the resulting VOC (volatile organic compound) values undercut the limits defined for seat applications by American and European OEMs.
Photograph top: The interior of the experimental vehicle from Continental. With its greenish-blue colour and circuit-board-like embossing, Acella Eco natural is well suited for the electric vehicle
Photograph above: The interior of the e-Bee from Visteon. The seats are covered with Benecke-Kaliko’s Acella Eco natural from, which goes easy on the environment by using regenerative raw materials.