Abstract: A molded component is produced by heating a non-woven material web to bring it into a plastically deformable state, and then plastically deforming the non-woven material under pressure between two mold tools of a molding apparatus. The mold tools define therebetween at least one or preferably several mold cavities that respectively simultaneously form molded products therein. A cut is formed in the plastically deformable non-woven material web, preferably between two adjacent mold cavities, immediately before and/or during the molding step. The cut facilitates a pulling or flowing of the non-woven material away from the cut and toward a respective mold cavity to facilitate the molding deformation thereof while avoiding excessive stretching and thinning of the non-woven material, especially at the transition area between adjacent mold cavities.

Abstract: For a process for producing a motor vehicle interior trim material including or consisting at least essentially of a needlefelt which includes a fibre blend including 25-35 wt % of polyamide (PA) fibres and 65-75 wt % of polyester (PES) fibres, preferably without other, bonding fibres, and is consolidated mechanically by needling and via adhesive bonding, it shall be achieved to provide a needlefelt material, in particular a motor vehicle interior trim material, which has a visually appealing surface finish even after thermoforming in the temperature range between 150° C. and 250° C.

Abstract: During the production of moulded bodies from a nonwoven (20) which can be solidified by a binding agent (11), differences in contour arise in critical profile regions of the moulded body using known methods. This especially occurs where the profile (26) has sharp curves or where the height of the profile sharply increases. According to the invention, moulded bodies having accurate profiles are produced by subjecting the nonwoven (20) to a suction process in points, i.e. at least in the critical profile regions, in the step of the method during which die form tool is closed. The air enclosed inside die nonwoven is thereby sucked out (37) and is used to position the fibre bundles on the contour of the form tool (25, 26) in an accurate manner. This enables an accurate embodiment of the moulded body to be obtained in terms of its contour, during cooling and hardening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for dividing (41, 42) the storage space behind a seat, comprising a storage floor (21) having a horizontal hinge (22). The storage floor (21) can be unfolded (46) or folded up in relation to the vehicle floor. Said hinge (22) enables the storage floor (21) to alternate between being in a storage position and a non-storage position. The invention aims to facilitate structure and handling. In order to achieve this, the storage floor (21) is fixed to the rear (19) of the seat by means of the hinge (22), forming a unit comprising the storage floor (21) and seat, which can be pre-assembled. In the non-storage position, the storage floor (21) folds onto the rear side (19) of the back of the seat (12) and is fixed thereto by a retaining means (30). In the storage position (21.2), the storage floor (21) juts out of the back of the seat (12) and is held in position by means of supporting surfaces (28).