The evolving demands for flame retardant materials in the automotive industry.
9/28/23, 1:30 PM - 9/28/23, 2:00 PM (EDT) (30 minutes)

The evolving demands for flame retardant materials in the automotive industry.
Daniel Baek Business Development Engineer  at Akro-Plastic GmbH daniel.baek@akro-plastic.com +13462681062

Daniel Baek serves as a Business Development Engineer at AKRO-PLASTIC, focusing on North America. He pursued his education in plastic engineering at the University of Aachen (IKV). Daniel's extensive professional journey spans over two decades with A. Schulman.  His role in Europe included overseeing the flame-retardant compounded product line. From 2006 to 2019, he led the Engineering Plastic Business Unit in Asia and subsequently assumed the position of Vice President for the Engineering Plastic Business Unit in the Americas at A. Schulman.


The evolving demands for flame retardant materials in the automotive industry have become a pivotal focus in recent years, driven by increased concerns for safety, environmental sustainability, and regulatory compliance. As vehicles become more sophisticated with integrated electronics and complex systems, the need to protect against fire hazards has intensified.

The recent surge in electric and hybrid vehicles has further complicated these demands. Battery systems and electrical components present a unique set of fire risks, requiring specific flame retardant solutions. Manufacturers are investing heavily in research and development to create materials that meet these multifaceted requirements.

Additionally, with global regulations growing ever more stringent, the automotive industry is challenged to find flame retardant materials that do not rely on harmful chemicals or compounds that might pose an environmental or health risk. The industry is progressively moving towards utilizing more environmentally friendly solutions.

Partnerships between automotive manufacturers, material suppliers, and research institutions are becoming more common, fostering innovation to meet the exacting standards of safety and environmental stewardship. The pursuit of advanced flame retardant materials in the automotive industry showcases a dynamic and adaptive response to the intricate balance of safety, performance, regulatory compliance, and consumer preferences, all of which are essential for the vehicles of tomorrow.