Stahl center of excellence for automotive in the Netherlands

Our center of excellence for Automotive in Waalwijk, the Netherlands, focuses on developing high-performance and sustainable solutions for car interiors. These range from smart surfaces that change color with the temperature to special haptics that make something feel warm and pleasant to the touch. The center also supports key customer trials that serve as a basis for the development and application of new solutions.

Combining colors and textures in automotive interiors

The Center of Excellence showcases innovation and provides inspiration to our customers. Along with developing and applying breakthrough solutions, we conduct customer trials and demonstrate how the sector can combine different interior materials and surface capabilities to unique effect, such as selecting leather colors and finishes that match perfectly with car trim materials.

State-of-the-art machinery at Center of Excellence Waalwijk

The center’s state-of-the-art machinery includes a unique coating, lacquering and printing line with a full-scale vacuum forming machine to produce full-size door panel skins. The center also boasts two unique squeak-and-rattle testing machines for seating, trim materials and weather strips, plus high-spec instruments for testing lightweight leather, anti-scuff and stain and other solutions in line with global car manufacturers' specifications.