Summary
At the Automotive World 2018 exhibition (January 17-19, 2018, Tokyo Big Sight), material manufacturers, processing manufacturers, processing machinery makers, parts manufacturers, and trading companies showcased a rich variety of products and technologies, including many electrification and automated driving related exhibits.
As electric vehicles (EVs) grow in number, the need for weight reduction (lightweighting) is increasing due to the increasing weight of secondary batteries used as a power source. Moreover, as electrification and automated driving continue to be promulgated, components that consume more power will also come into increasing use, and this will result in the need for lightweighting as a countermeasure for energy conservation. To respond to these demands, the use of plastics that have low specific gravity and light metals is increasing, and among these, multi-materials created through dissimilar metals bonding are attracting attention recently as a lightweighting solution. At this year’s Automotive World, an exhibition zone was set up for dissimilar material joining and bonding, and companies showcased lightweight materials that combine the workability properties of plastics and mechanical strength properties of metals.
Following the previous report on CFRP components/plastic molding technologies exhibition, and with support from Mr. Takeo Yasuda, head of the Yasuda Polymer Research Institute, this report will cover the exhibition of technologies for dissimilar materials joining, plastics for electrification, automated driving, and various uses of high performance plastics.
Related Reports:
Automotive World 2018: CFRP components and plastic molding technology (Feb. 2018)
Tokyo Motor Show 2017: Plastics utilized for autonomous driving and electric vehicle components (Dec. 2017)
JSAE Exposition 2017: Leading resin material makers (Aug. 2017)
JSAE Exposition 2017: Exhibitions of resin molding processing technologies (Aug. 2017)
Local Reconstruction Note
This article has been expanded from the visible local mirror text, headings, tags, image captions, tables, and related local article titles. It is presented as a reconstructed reading version, not as a hidden original document.
Dissimilar materials joining: Structural adhesives, resin/metal joining technologies
The source outline identifies this section as part of “Automotive World 2018: Joining of dissimilar materials, high function plastics exhibition”. Based on the available local metadata, this section should be read through the lens of Bonding, Asahi Kasei, Adhesive, Zeon, Toyobo, Sumitomo Bakelite and the visible introduction, figures, captions, and tables.
Plastic molding products and materials for EV
The source outline identifies this section as part of “Automotive World 2018: Joining of dissimilar materials, high function plastics exhibition”. Based on the available local metadata, this section should be read through the lens of Bonding, Asahi Kasei, Adhesive, Zeon, Toyobo, Sumitomo Bakelite and the visible introduction, figures, captions, and tables.
Plastics for use on HMI system, sensing
The source outline identifies this section as part of “Automotive World 2018: Joining of dissimilar materials, high function plastics exhibition”. Based on the available local metadata, this section should be read through the lens of Bonding, Asahi Kasei, Adhesive, Zeon, Toyobo, Sumitomo Bakelite and the visible introduction, figures, captions, and tables.
High performance plastics: Compact/lightweight, high strength/high elasticity, heat/radiation resistance, mechanical characteristics
The source outline identifies this section as part of “Automotive World 2018: Joining of dissimilar materials, high function plastics exhibition”. Based on the available local metadata, this section should be read through the lens of Bonding, Asahi Kasei, Adhesive, Zeon, Toyobo, Sumitomo Bakelite and the visible introduction, figures, captions, and tables.
Various plastic materials and molded parts for automotive use: Interior materials/decorative materials
The source outline identifies this section as part of “Automotive World 2018: Joining of dissimilar materials, high function plastics exhibition”. Based on the available local metadata, this section should be read through the lens of Bonding, Asahi Kasei, Adhesive, Zeon, Toyobo, Sumitomo Bakelite and the visible introduction, figures, captions, and tables.
Related Local Signals
Nearby records in the local archive include Taipei AMPA 2026: Foxconn’s EV Technology; Smart Energy Week 2026: Batteries and Charging; Electrified Vehicle (xEV) Sales Monthly Report (March 2026); Geely i-HEV Intelligent Hybrid Technology Presentation. These titles can be used as adjacent evidence when comparing suppliers, technologies, markets, and reporting periods.