In the early 20th century, cars were built of wood for its durability and flexibility. In the early 21st century, Faurecia continues that heritage of using natural fibers, but now for their light-weight attributes, replacing parts that were traditionally made of plastic or metal.

Natural fibers are the smart choice

The smart fortwo features an innovative Faurecia instrument panel substrate that uses compressed natural fibers, providing a weight savings of 15% when compared to traditional solutions.

Lignolight leads us toward the woods

For three decades, Faurecia has been using reclaimed wood fiber for its acoustic benefits and for improved weight structure. Today, we are pursuing more ways to rely on wood fiber as a structural component. Our Lignolight technology, a mixture of 70 percent wood fiber and just 30 percent plastic resin, allows the development of door-panel substrates that are 40 percent less dense than conventional panels, producing significant weight savings potential while sustaining the highest performance levels. The low resin content also reduces dependence on volatile oil supplies.

Ligneos trims the cost of interior wood

Traditional wood trim can be prohibitively expensive, but Ligneos from Faurecia combines natural-fiber-based substrate materials with a traditional wood veneer to create a large surface that is far lighter than conventional wood used over the same area. Ligneos also allows a return to the premium look and feel of wood, replacing plastics and steel.

Ligneco celebrates the substrate

By using its Ligneco wood composite to form the substrate for doors and other interior surfaces, Faurecia is able to significantly reduce waste and increase the recyclability of interior vehicle components. Door panel structures from Faurecia can incorporate 50 to 88 percent wood fibers, supplemented by polyolefin or polyester. The substrate is highly flexible in its application, allowing for stains, paints or even surface exposure.

Returning to nature for materials such as linen and wood is simply the natural way to pursue development of clean vehicles.

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