It’s an exciting time at Interflex as in recent months we’ve widened our repertoire into developing new sustainable materials to be used in areas outside of the automotive industry.
While we continue to develop and supply innovative materials for motor manufacturers, the time has come to branch out into new areas such as horticulture with our sustainable Mulchii™ Bio-Mats and rail, motorhomes and buildings with our lightweight acoustic material Ocean.
Natural and recyclable
While developing our new materials, recyclability and sustainability has been the key driver and we’re delighted we are now fully operational using recycled materials and natural fibres on the production line.
Not only that, the new materials Ocean and Mulchii™ have very diverse uses. Ocean is a polyester fibre used in the manufacture of acoustic absorbers designed to reduce noise and vibration in vehicles. Mulchii™ is a material made from hemp or jute and is used to make Mulchi™ Bio-Mats which help create optimal growth conditions for newly planted trees.
MD Jim Griffin explains: ”We have long focused on the cost-effective use of materials to meet cost and performance demands as well as reducing weight in vehicles to make them more economical. So, it seemed like a natural extension to develop and use recycled materials in our products. We aim to be one of the most eco-conscious manufacturers in the automotive sector, as well as expanding the use of these products into other areas.”
The future of NVH
Ocean is made from a minimum of 80% recycled polyester and can be recycled at the end of its lifespan. Lightweight and mouldable, it can help reduce shape complexity which cuts tooling costs and enables better utilisation of materials. Ocean is also heat sealable, as well as water and oil resistant and is already improving levels of recyclability at the end of a vehicle’s life.
Greener growing solutions
Because Mulchii™ Bio-Mats are made from flax or hemp, which can be grown in the UK and Europe, they have a smaller carbon footprint and are easier to source than the commonly used coconut fibre which is expensive and grown further afield in locations such as India. Mulch mats allow trees to access nutrients and moisture as needed, helping to prevent roots from freezing during the winter. They also eliminate threats to healthy growth by suppressing weeds and providing protection from pests.
“As a responsible manufacturer aware of the potentially catastrophic implications of climate change, we are always looking for ways to make our supply chain and production line greener,” adds Jim.
“The products we make are important in reducing our carbon footprint. Ocean helps reduce weight in cars, which is significant in terms of maximising energy efficiency. Mulchii™ helps create better conditions for saplings to grow – and as we know, planting more trees helps offset the negative effects of climate change. Now we have further extended our sustainability policy by ensuring that the materials we use have great environmental credentials too.”
Find out more about our sustainable solutions
To find out more about our exciting new materials suitable for use in a range of industries and applications or any of the NVH solutions we offer to the motor industry, please email us on sales@interflex2000.com or give us a call on 01949 861 494.