GE Challenges Royal College of Art Students to Imagine the Future of Automotive Design Using Latest Plastic Technologies

Graduate students from the Vehicle Design department ofLondon's prestigious Royal College of Art (RCA) are imagining - andprototyping - the future of automotive design in plastics during athree-month program and competition called PLASTicon which began inDecember. To explore the potential of such GE innovations asthermoplastic glazing, plastic body panels, and lighting technologiesin futuristic vehicles, approximately 20 students are participating inPLASTicon. They are researching, designing, and building models of"blue sky" vehicles aimed at the needs of different markets - from SUVowners to Gen-Y consumers - and competing for prizes and prestige.

"We've eagerly anticipated this collaboration with some of theworld's most talented automotive designers-in-training on solutionsfor the vehicles of tomorrow," said Geert Jan Schellekens, principalautomotive designer for GE - Plastics. "GE innovation is givingPLASTicon participants a wide range of materials and capabilities touse in creating concepts that meet future needs - such asenvironmental compliance and new aesthetic directions."

The PLASTicon program divides students into teams of three forresearch into specific scenarios, including emerging generations,emerging markets, auto segment redefinition, formal freedom, andfunction integration. Once the groups have completed an analysis andreached conclusions, each team member designs and models a personalinterpretation of the scenario. In addition to automotive exteriors,students may be expected to design interiors or subsystems. GEadvisors are working closely with RCA staff and the students toprovide guidance and resources. PLASTicon is expected to runapproximately three months and will culminate with judging by GEexperts. The winner will receive a weekend in New York and a chance topresent their design at GE's design council.

The Royal College of Art is the world's only wholly postgraduateuniversity of art and design, specializing in teaching and researchand offering the degrees of MA, MPhil, and PhD across the disciplinesof fine art, applied art, design, communications, and humanities. TheRCA's Vehicle Design curriculum trains students to pioneer newapproaches for private and public transportation, including addressingsuch concerns as traffic congestion, safety, and environmental issues.

GE's Plastics business is an industry leader in automotivetechnologies representing body panels and glazing, exteriorcomponents, trims, and accessories, lighting, structures andinteriors, and underhood applications. Innovative GE materials expanddesign freedom and creativity vs. traditional metal and glass whilehelping to give manufacturers many performance and aesthetic benefits,including weight reduction for improved fuel economy, noise reduction,parts integration for lighter weight and cost savings, and uniquecolors and special effects.

About GE - Plastics

GE - Plastics is a global supplier of plastic resins widely usedin automotive, healthcare, consumer electronics, transportation,performance packaging, building & construction, telecommunications,and optical media applications. The company manufactures and compoundspolycarbonate, ABS, SAN, ASA, PPE, PC/ABS, PBT and PEI resins, as wellas the LNP(1) line of high-performance specialty compounds. GE -Plastics, Specialty Film & Sheet manufactures high-performanceLexan(1) sheet and film products used in thousands of demandingapplications worldwide. In addition, GE - Plastics' dedicatedAutomotive organization is an experienced, world-wide competitor,offering leading plastics solutions for five key automotive segments:body panels and glazing; under the hood applications; component;structures and interiors; and lighting. As a Worldwide Partner of theOlympic Games, GE is the exclusive provider of a wide range ofinnovative products and services that are integral to a successfulGames.

(1) LNP and Lexan are trademarks of General Electric Company.