• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Forum
  • Design Studio
  • Upholstery Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsors

The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Buick GL6: The First Car Wrapped in IMSS

February 8, 2021 By Nadeem Muaddi

The Hog Ring - The Buick GL6 Gets Wrapped in Injection Molded Soft Skin

To the naked eye, the Buick GL6 looks like an ordinary minivan. But inside, there’s actually something special going on.

It’s the first vehicle to employ Kraton Corporation‘s injection-molded soft skin (IMSS) technology, which industry insiders say is about to revolutionize interior manufacturing.

Kraton manufactures specialty and bio-based polymers that go into everyday products. Their IMSS technology uses ultra-high flow thermoplastic elastomers, which are part of the hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers (HSBC) family, to produce lightweight, ultra-thin leather-like materials for the automotive industry.

Unlike PVC soft skins, HSBC-based materials can be applied to interior panels via injection molding. They also contain no added plasticizer, phthalates, or cross-linking agents and give off less odor than PVC soft skins.

The Hog Ring - The Buick GL6 Gets Wrapped in Injection Molded Soft Skin

For automakers, IMSS is a game-changer.

Auto Evolution explains: “Producing various interior panels using this technology can help automotive interior manufacturers sidestep the expensive, labor-intensive and energy-consuming slush molding process. That’s because the injection molding equipment offers higher efficiency, is cheaper to maintain, and consumes less electrical energy.”

“The process of creating an IMSS skin by injection molding can take 20% less time than manufacturing a PVC soft skin of similar size using the conventional slush process. Injection-molding tools also offer a longer lifespan than electroformed slush molds.”

The Hog Ring - The Buick GL6 Gets Wrapped in Injection Molded Soft Skin

The Buick GL6 is the first mass-produced vehicle to feature IMSS technology on its instrument panel — but it won’t be the last.

Industry experts expect the technology will attract loads more automakers and eventually become an industry standard.

Filed Under: Archive, Interesting Read Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Buick, Buick GL6, Car Interior, Kraton Corporation

Primary Sidebar

anal porno bangbros rus porno yaşlı porno konulu porno olgun porno porno izle sarışın porno bakire sex 69 porno

THR Sponsors

NC Sewing Machines
Miami Corporation - Right Rail Ad 3
  • OEM+ Banner Ad - The Hog Ring
  • Hyde Leather
  • Leather Craft
  • Keyston Bros
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • Albright's Supply

THR Favorites

The Hog Ring - Sewn Tight Custom Interiors - Successful Shops are Clean and Organized

Sewn Tight Custom Interiors’ Secret to an Organized Shop

Every auto upholstery shop can benefit from … [more] about Sewn Tight Custom Interiors’ Secret to an Organized Shop

The Hog Ring - Roxan Jane of Range Needlework

Meet Roxan Jane of Range Needlework

Thanks to her beautifully crafted motorcycle … [more] about Meet Roxan Jane of Range Needlework

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - VW Bus

JNG Creations 1961 VW Bus Resto-Rod

After converting a 1961 Volkswagen single-cab … [more] about JNG Creations 1961 VW Bus Resto-Rod

10 Tools Your Shop Shouldn’t Skimp On

Not every tool you own needs to be a Snap-On, … [more] about 10 Tools Your Shop Shouldn’t Skimp On

The Hog Ring- First Project Car 1969 Dodge Charger

THR’s First Project Car: 1969 Dodge Charger

Big News! The Hog Ring just acquired its … [more] about THR’s First Project Car: 1969 Dodge Charger

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Chevrolet Chevelle Door Panel

Design Studio: 1964-67 Chevelle Door Panel

In continuation of our door panel series, … [more] about Design Studio: 1964-67 Chevelle Door Panel

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • Legendary Trimmer Sid Chavers Honored with Hall of Fame Induction
  • Mercedes-Benz GLC Debuts World’s First Vegan Certified Interior
  • Neither Coffee nor Jeans Can Stain Infiniti’s White Upholstery
  • Keyston Bros Celebrates 20 Years of Olympus Vinyl
  • Adrien Brody Interns at Porsche’s Upholstery Department — Watch the Video

Recent Comments

  • Edward Munday on Hidden Mouse Nest? How to Charge for the Extra Dirty Work
  • Jack on Keyston Bros. Acquires DLT Corporation
  • Brodie Smith on Aston Martin Just Introduced a New Convertible DB12
  • THE CAPTAIN on 6 Tips for Turning Callers into Customers
  • Dmei on Star Wars Seat Covers are ‘So Wizard’

Advertise With Us!

We're always looking for companies to collaborate with. Watch this short video about the benefits of sponsorship and then email us to say hi.

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in