Photo by Kiefel Technologies Kiefel Technologies says its newest machines can produce up to 2,000 cover skins for auto instrument panels per day.

Kiefel Technologies Kiefel Technologies says its newest machines can produce up to 2,000 cover skins for auto instrument panels per day.

Kiefel Technologies said its latest generation of vacuum forming machines for producing instrument panels — featuring the In-Mould Graining Process, to create the IP with artificial leather.

The IMG process can work either in the form of IMG laminated onto a substrate part or of a foam-backed IMG molded skin.

Kiefel has decades of experience in car interiors. “Only companies that really know their market are able to provide the right solutions,” said Wolfgang Eglseer, director of sales for the automotive industry. “After in-depth research, Kiefel has once more picked up on current requirements and consistently implemented them in two, all-new machine designs.”

Eglsleer said two Kiefel machines are designed for the IMG forming process. One is designed for processing film material in rolls, while the other one creates film blanks for the supplied rolls. He said it’s also possible to use prefabricated blanks.

The large forming area allows two instrument panels to be produced at the same time.

“For a three-shift operation, the output can now reach up to 2,000 panels per day.” Eglseer said. “On top of which we can now produce very high instrument panels, due to the new dimensions.”

An automatic quick-tool changer reduces downtime, as preparation for a tool changes happens while production is still going, and the change itself takes only a few minutes, according to Kiefel Technologies.

The first of the machines were delivered in November 2015 and January 2016. More orders followed from customers around the world, Kiefel officials said.

Kiefel is based in Freilassing, Germany. It is part of the Brückner Group.