ŠKODA Uses Seat Covers Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles

MLADÁ BOLESLAV, Czech Republic—The seats of ŠKODA’s new ENYAQ iV electric vehicle will be upholstered with fabric that combines wool with polyester made from recycled plastic bottles.

“The consistent use of sustainably produced materials in our vehicles is changing the requirements in the purchasing division and placing new demands on our suppliers,” says Markéta Truhelková, purchasing coordinator for vehicle interior components at ŠKODA. “We are working together to develop innovative sustainable materials that stand up to everyday use, are easy to work with, and are attractive design accents.”

The fabric was developed by Czech supplier Sage Automotive Interiors. Bottles made from PET are crushed, melted and processed into granulate. This is used to make a durable yarn. Once on the loom, 6,000 such threads are turned into a resistant fabric. The material is then washed and dried to give it stability.

Sage also develops fabrics with reflective yarns and fabrics with special fibers that function as seat heaters.

The ASSEMBLY Show South

ASSEMBLY is thrilled to return to the Music City Center in Nashville, TN for The ASSEMBLY Show SOUTH on May 1-2, 2024. This is a booming time for manufacturing and the U.S. South is right in the heart of the action. According to ASSEMBLY’s most recent annual capital spending survey, the South is projected to account for 31 percent of total spending this year, marking the fifth straight year this region has accounted for at least 30 percent of capital spending in the U.S.

In this session, manufacturers will learn how Quality function deployment (QFD) can transform consumers’ qualitative demands into quantitative parameters that will shape the design of their product and, ultimately, their manufacturing process.

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