Kautex Wins First Order for Pentatonic Skid Plate for Battery Electric Vehicles

Rhea-AI Summary

Kautex Textron has secured its first order for a thermoplastic composite underbody battery protection skid plate from an automotive OEM, marking its entry into the battery housing sector. The skid plate is part of Kautex's Pentatonic battery system, aimed at supporting the production of battery electric vehicles. This lightweight solution promises over a 50% weight reduction compared to steel and offers advantages like corrosion resistance, design flexibility, and enhanced serviceability. The Pentatonic system has won multiple awards and has undergone rigorous international testing to meet safety standards.

Positive

• First order received for Pentatonic battery product supporting EV production.
• Over 50% weight reduction compared to traditional steel solutions.
• Awards received for innovation: Enabler Technology Award and Langxuan Innovation Award.
• Successful completion of rigorous international safety tests.

Negative

• None.

Win marks Kautex’s entrance into battery housings and related components

BONN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG (Kautex), a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced it has received the first order from an automotive OEM for a thermoplastic composite underbody battery protection skid plate. The skid plate is part of the company’s new Pentatonic battery system product line supporting battery electric vehicle production.

Image of Kautex's full Pentatonic battery system. (Photo: Business Wire)

Pentatonic is a lightweight, customizable solution produced from thermoplastic or composite metal hybrid. The new skid plate design will be produced for on-and-off-road applications. It is designed to meet industry-leading impact requirements and features over a 50% weight reduction versus its steel counterpart. Pentatonic’s material composition and production processes also offer inherent corrosion resistance, design flexibility, improved serviceability and overall higher value than other alternatives.

“Kautex has a history of innovation and firsts throughout its 88-year history,” said Jörg Rautenstrauch, president & CEO, Kautex Textron. “We are delighted our Pentatonic technology has been chosen to support this innovative customer, and we look forward to offering a complete thermoplastic composite battery structure in future design and development work.”

“Research, development and testing has proven our system offers improved performance versus steel and aluminum systems while reducing weight and CO₂ emissions and simplifying the production process,” said Felix Haas, director, Pentatonic Product Development. “Our customer understands the system-level benefits we offer and is leading the industry in the transition to composite-based structures to meet their needs.”

The Pentatonic system recently won the Enabler Technology Award from the Internationale Gesellschaft für Kunststofftechnik, SPE Central Europe for its Pentatonic battery system and a Langxuan Innovation Award in China. Additionally, last fall, the system underwent rigorous testing in accordance with internationally recognized standards including the Chinese GB 38031 standard and the ECR R100 from the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). The system successfully met the requirements for numerous tests including mechanical shock, crush, drop, vibration and bottom impact testing.

About Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG

At Kautex, we are driving the future. As a Tier One automotive supplier with more than 30 plants in 14 countries, Kautex designs, develops and manufactures traditional and hybrid fuel systems, advanced cleaning solutions for assisted and autonomous driving, engine camshafts and plastic industrial packaging solutions. A pioneer in the design and manufacture of automotive plastic fuel systems, Kautex is expanding its portfolio to offer smart products and data-driven services to our customers, including smart fuel systems, thermoplastic composite and composite-metal hybrid battery systems. From a lightweight battery system to a hybrid fuel system to autonomous drive vehicle cleaning systems, Kautex is committed to pioneering solutions for the era of new mobility.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

www.kautex.de
Kautex Textron, Inc. Kautexstrasse 52, Bonn 53229 Germany

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230206005277/en/

SARA MONGER

Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG

+1 817 301 2126

sara.monger@kautex.textron.com

Source: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG

FAQ

What is the significance of Kautex's recent order related to Textron (TXT)?

Kautex announced its first order for a thermoplastic composite underbody battery protection skid plate from an automotive OEM, marking its entry into the battery housing market.

How does the Pentatonic system impact battery electric vehicle production?

The Pentatonic system supports battery electric vehicle production by providing a lightweight and customizable battery protection solution.

What awards has Kautex's Pentatonic system received?

The Pentatonic system received the Enabler Technology Award and the Langxuan Innovation Award for its innovative design and capabilities.

What are the weight reduction benefits of Kautex's new skid plate compared to steel?

The new skid plate designed by Kautex offers over a 50% weight reduction compared to steel counterparts.

What testing standards has the Pentatonic system met?

The Pentatonic system successfully met international testing standards including the Chinese GB 38031 and ECR R100 for mechanical shock, vibration, and impact.