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Johnson Controls’ family of processes sets the standard Crafting Superior Products Benchmark quality. Flexible design themes. Improved efficiencies. These are all possible for automakers through Johnson Controls’ CrafTec® family of interior processes. That’s because the CrafTec processes reduce multiple fabricating and assembly steps into a single and efficient (injection molding) operation, saving precious time in manufacturing. At the same time, the process opens a world of possibilities to designers, affording them the chance to create concepts unencumbered by past manufacturing limitations while enabling multiple styling themes off a single tooling investment. So, the CrafTec processes can allow automakers to create interior door and instrument panels with well-defined lines, exacting intersections and consistent grain repetition. Among the benefits of CrafTec:

With CrafTec Partial Mold-Behind (PMB), an injection-molding process is used to create panels consisting of both hard materials and soft covering in one machine cycle. This is a major advancement, because previously, molded panels and the accompanying soft-covered goods had to be developed separately and assembled later. That took more time and more effort. And because the process is controlled by one set of tools, the benchmark craftsmanship is both predictable and repeatable.
CrafTec PMB allows automakers to go up a level, more affordably than ever before. Because the single-step process combines hard and soft materials, automakers can focus attention on placing softness where the auto passenger will sit—without incurring additional production time and investment of traditional methods.
CrafTec PMB can enable flexible design themes with a single mold tool investment. With our new PerfectFit® technology, accent panels that were previously separate pieces are now integrated into the molding process, and their shape can be changed to create varying trim levels.
CrafTec PMB with PerfectFit® can be used to integrate accent panels of complementary grains or even different cover materials from sporty to luxury or anywhere in between.
Because only one part is created, there is less potential for buzzing, squeaking or rattling usually associated with the conjoining of several parts.

Rounding out the CrafTec family is Multi-color Injection (MCI) and Partial Foam-in-Place (PFIP). MCI allows manufacturers to create two-color substrates in one part. That means interior trim panels can benefit from two-color designs without resorting to processes requiring multi-shot injection molding or painting. Because the two-color substrate is created in one step, production efficiencies abound. The MCI process creates a two-color intersection that is best-in-class and uses less material.
With the PFIP process, manufacturers can apply localized deep, luxurious levels of softness to a part via a thick urethane foam pad that also adheres the cover skin to the primary panel. Again, this saves time and materials, since the main substrate is used instead of attaching several separate parts to a piece. Best of all, it allows designers to place plush softness on parts where there’s a high degree of cabin passenger contact. That, in turn, provides a better consumer experience.
All because of CrafTec efficiencies.