DETROIT, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Woodbridge Group announced
the most extensive interior product line offering the industry's highest
levels of "Green" Polyurethane Foams. As a key component of its renewable
resource strategy, BioFoam, a patented technology, substitutes petroleum
with plant oils, in the manufacturing of polyurethane products. This
earth-friendly solution for a full line-up of automotive interior
applications includes; seat cushions, seat fabric composites, head
restraints, arm rests, occupant protection components, trim cover laminates
and overhead systems.
BioFoam is the first mass-production ready, plant-based polyurethane
foam solution to meet all required customer performance criteria. According
to Dr. Hamdy Khalil, Global Director of Research and Development, and
Product Development at Woodbridge, "BioFoam is the best choice for
environmentally viable automotive interiors. Currently, Woodbridge supplies
the broadest Bio- product range for interior applications, at up to 40%
Bio-Polyol substitution. You are going to see substantially higher green
content levels in the next generation. We have successfully produced foams
with 100% Bio-Polyol in laboratory trials. If the industry adopted this
level, Bio-Polyols alone could reduce fossil oil dependence by millions of
barrels annually. Since Polyol only represents a portion of polyurethane's
chemistry, we are now working on the Isocyanate side of the formulation, to
go even more green."
Martin Mazza, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Global Sales
notes, "Our position on green technologies is simple. We believe it's about
choice. At Woodbridge, we feel our role is to help develop and validate
environmentally sensitive solutions at equal or better performance and
cost. Industry and consumers alike, have a tremendous responsibility now."
The success of BioFoam is directly linked to Cargill's highly
engineered plant oil Polyol. Woodbridge has worked jointly with Cargill to
validate Bio- Polyols for automotive applications. Cargill has performed a
life cycle analysis, which reveals this technology reduces; global warming
emissions by 36 percent, non-renewable energy use by 61 percent, and
reduces total energy demand. Over the next 3 years Woodbridge targets
BioFoam's Green Polyol inclusion to reach; 30% for overhead components,
occupant protection foams, seat cushions, and the 50% mark for head
restraints. Woodbridge continues to receive interest from numerous OEMs and
Tier Ones for multiple future programs. Several vehicles launching in 2008
will feature BioFoam products. In cooperation with Magna, the recently
announced 2009 Ford Escape is one of the latest examples.
The Woodbridge Group is a Canadian company with 63 facilities operating
in 21 countries, and is a global leader in the development and production
of polyurethane products. Automotive applications include components for
seating, structural support, occupant protection, headliner systems and
acoustical management, as well as a full range of value added services
including engineering and design, supply chain management, assembly,
sequencing and JIT delivery solutions. For more information, visit
http://www.woodbridgegroup.com.
Contact:
Tom Justrich, Director, Global Marketing
Phone: 905-896-3626
Email: thomas_justrich@woodbridgegroup.com
SOURCE The Woodbridge Group
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Related links:
http://www.woodbridgegroup.com
CONTACT:
Tom Justrich, Director, Global Marketing of
The Woodbridge Group, +1-905-896-3626,
thomas_justrich@woodbridgegroup.com
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