Samsonite IP Holdings S.a.r.l.

Arno De Taeye

Rik Hillaert

Process of making a plastic component (), in particular luggage shell, from self-reinforced thermoplastic material, to a plastic component () made of self-reinforced thermoplastic material and an apparatus for making such a plastic component, in particular luggage shell (). The invention provides a new product and process for manufacturing same on the basis of self-reinforced thermoplastic material by means of the step of tensioning said material (lamina), at least partially tensioning said lamina during all follow-up component shaping and/or molding steps up to a release of a component pre-form shape from the remainder lamina, to form the component. The present invention allow the manufacturing of an ultra-light weight luggage shell () on the basis of using self-reinforced thermoplastic material, the manufacturing of same can be further enhanced by permanently tensioning said material during all manufacturing steps up to the final finishing of the product.

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Brakel, Belgium

Arno De Taeye