Inergy Automotive Solutions (IAS)

IAS is the leading Tier One supplier of plastic fuel systems to the world’s major car manufacturers – one in every five light vehicles produced in the world is equipped by INERGY. The company was founded in 2000 as a joint venture between Plastic Omnium and Solvay.
Automotive industries interviewed Jan Van den Oetelaar, IAS Vice President, Europe.
AI: IAS was founded as a joint venture between large industrial concerns. Has this partnership helped you achieve your market position?
JV: Business from both partners is complementary from a customer base and industrial footprint point of view. Full global coverage of this extent would have taken longer if both partners developed independently. Combined knowledge has increased the depth of our products.
AI: Has the IAS footprint mirrored the global approach of OEMs?
JV: Inergy has been the first to support several OEMs to enter countries where they set up production facilities. This has allowed us to be truly global and has enriched the company culture and allowed it to build relationships with the OEMs at local subsidiaries.
AI: Why plastic fuel systems as a speciality?
JV: Working with plastic fuel systems has many benefits, including design freedom, increased fuel storage, increased mileage, and crash worthiness. Plastic fuel systems are environmentally friendly, a lower weight, compatible with new fuels, and the fuel tanks are 100% recyclable.
AI: Any plans to differentiate your product offerings to OEM customers?
JV: Cost pressure and new regulations are an opportunity to deliver innovations for fuel consumption. There is pressure on OEMs to meet emission standards, allowing us to position innovative product lines like SCR.
AI: Government regulators and automotive OEMs are striving for more fuel efficient, environmentally friendly vehicles. How does this affect IAS?
JV: INERGY is dedicated to providing innovative solutions to the car manufacturer to contribute to lower the level of pollution of their gasoline or diesel-run vehicles. Two major INERGY innovations in the battle against particulate matters and nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel engines are INSAS TM and DINOX TM.
AI: Does Europe bring unique challenges in this area than other markets like NAFTA?
JV: Europe has a higher % of Diesel and CO2. In the end both geographies will use the same type of technologies but that is due to the different composition of the car park (diesel vs gasoline).
AI: How important are environmental issues to IAS in developing breakthrough technologies?
JV: INERGY has established R&D centers in the main regions of the world to anticipate, adapt and develop high technology solutions, taking into account emissions regulations and responding to the challenge of environment-friendly vehicles.
AI: Do IAS products meet recent European Emission Standards legislation?
JV: We exceed Euro 5 by far with PZEV. Inerfill is designed to allow the car to pass lev2/PZEV emissions (only system PZEV compliant). Clinfill passes Euro 5. Insas and Dinox are able to meet Tier 2 Bin 5 in the US, and in Europe, Euro 5 and even Euro 6.
AI: What are IAS’ plans for 2007?
JV: We plan to continue to execute our longer term strategy that is based on innovation and geographical growth. We see a need to support the growth foreseen for Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and will react accordingly.
AI: Describe SCR and its impact on the industry.
JV: Since 2005, the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology on heavy duty
vehicles in Europe, ensure an efficient NOx after-treatment to meet Euro 4 emissions
regulation. SCR technology should be implemented for light vehicles in 2008 and generalized in 2010/12.