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SPEAKER INTERVIEW: Jeff Stout, Yanfeng
With the Injection Molding and Design Expo just around the corner, we have been interviewing our speakers to hear their insights into the industry. The latest interview is with Jeff Stout, Executive Director of Global Innovation at Yanfeng.
Yanfeng is a leading global automotive supplier, focusing on interior, exterior, seating, cockpit electronics and passive safety for the vehicles of today and tomorrow. Yanfeng has more than 240 locations and approximately 67,000 employees worldwide. The company’s technical team of 4,200 experts is located at 10 R&D centers and other regional offices, with complete capabilities including engineering & software development, styling, and test validation. Focusing on Smart Cabin and lightweight technology, Yanfeng supports automakers to explore future mobility and provide leading cabin solutions.
What do you think sets your company apart from your competitors?
Yanfeng sets itself apart from the competition through the development of new technology solutions that are applied globally and blurring the hard lines currently separating product zones to find unrecognized efficiency in system solutions. Yanfeng is one of the few automotive interiors and seating suppliers that can combine and integrate a broad passive safety product portfolio into the vehicle interior. This means, wherever the passenger is seated, Yanfeng is developing advanced, integrated system solutions driving performance, cost-competitive solutions, and a consumer experience that will lead the industry.
Are there any new technology developments that your company is working on at the moment?
There are many new technology developments we are working on. One, I’d like to highlight, is our Eco-skin product. This is a replacement for slush PVC/TPU or Spray PU skin solutions. This recyclable olefin molded skin allows injection molding assets to mold not only the carriers, but also the skins for a whole range of interior components. This skin does not need B-side primer or a-side topcoat. It can be translucent for smart switch dead fronting. It is currently in production in China as a high volume IP skin.
What are the biggest challenges facing the injection molding industry today, and how can this be overcome?
Most of Yanfeng’s challenges that the company is confronted with are on the material side of molding and not the equipment specifically. No major pain points regarding the equipment.
How do you see the sector developing in the next five to ten years?
Over the next five to ten years, I just see continued growth.
You are speaking at the Injection Molding and Design Expo, what are you most looking forward to?
I am looking forward to broad interactions on all the activities going on in the injection molding world across industries.
Don't miss Jeff in the panel discussion on 'Understanding the evolving demands of the automotive industry' at the Injection Molding and Design Expo.