A few weeks back, PolyOne Corp. announced that it would hold its Investor Day on May 10, at NPE2018. The company’s emphasis on on how its materials portfolio and design expertise are shaping the future of advanced mobility by major OEMs. Together, according to the company, these resources are serving to bolster automotive technologies and systems spurred by trends such as ride sharing, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), sustainability, and electrification.

At the upcoming Investor Day, PolyOne will present additional details about transportation solutions as one of several high-growth focus areas that underpin the company’s expectation of delivering double-digit EPS (earnings per share) growth in 2018 and beyond.

The company notes that explosive growth is a common denominator among these new technologies. It cites marketing intelligence film BCC Research which projects the ADAS market to reach $59.1 billion in size with a CAGR of 19.9 percent through 2021. Also cited is Bloomberg’s New Energy Finance, which predicts that electric vehicles will account for 34 percent of new car sales by 2040. While corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards may evolve, a measure of sustainability also factors into automakers’ goals for the future.

As leading manufacturers leverage these emerging automotive market trends, PolyOne serves their needs with in-depth design expertise paired with a forward-thinking portfolio of material solutions. Recent commercial projects include:

• ADAS: Protecting sensors and cameras from EMI/RFI interference with electrically conductive thermoplastics that reduce weight versus metal.
• Lightweighting: Replacing metal with advanced composite laminates for reduced weight, better resistance, and lower warranty costs.
• Interior air quality: Developing TPEs that meet Vehicle Interior Air Quality (VIAQ) standards for HVAC components.
• Durability: Providing scratch and mar resistant additives for interior cabin trim components to increase long-term durability of fleet vehicles. 
• Reduced VOCs: Eliminating paint with a metallic colorant for vehicle exterior components to reduce cost and remove VOC emissions.

Said Robert M. Patterson, chairman, president and CEO, “Our tailored materials portfolio and collaborative approach are enabling automotive customers to invent the future.”