Circuit Boards and Wiring Harnesses

Acrylic fiber optic cables can enhance the illumination and ambience of the interior of a car, as well as simplify connections between a car's battery and any lit accessories. Plastic fiber optic cables are being introduced in and between car stereo components, providing a car's occupants with unmatched high-fidelity sound. Plastic fiber optic cable is also being used to speed interference-free data transmission in complex electronic car components such as GPS navigation equipment and ABS sensor components. By using plastic fiber optic cable and minimizing the amount of copper wire used, the overall weight of the vehicle is reduced, applications work better, and are made safer and easier for plant operators to install.

Fifteen or twenty years ago, a dashboard would have been crammed full of heavy copper wiring. A car manufacturer today saves space behind the dashboard by installing flexible plastic circuit boards instead of a bulky wiring harness. This allows for more interior room within a given frame and leads to a reduction in overall vehicle weight.

Electrical components are becoming more and more prevalent in the cars we drive. From fuel injection to lighting systems, to electrical switches and circuit boards, plastics help house, connect, and simplify these complex instruments. This simplification leads to manufacturer savings in weight, assembly time, and cost, all of which would not be possible without the power of plastics.

Image provided by the Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers International (SPE), a not-for-profit engineering society.