Cork’s intrinsic properties when combined with Corticeira Amorim’s technical capacity and cutting-edge technology can respond in full to the requirements of any existing and future transport system, including lighter and more comfortable state-of-the-art trains, buses and automobiles, and, of course, more eco-efficient ships and aeroplanes. The advantages of the cork components specially designed for this segment include lightness, durability, resistance to fire and high temperatures, thermal, acoustic and anti-vibration insulation, which provide incomparable levels of safety and comfort, as well as significant reductions in energy consumption.
The mobility sector has become a priority area for Corticeira Amorim, which already belongs to several consortia of companies with skills spanning different technological areas.
One of the most recent and innovative projects involves maritime transport. In this segment, cork plays an important role in reducing ships’ weight, ensuring greater passenger comfort and ecological construction, in accordance with the demanding parameters of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
An innovative primary cork decking, used on luxury river cruises built by MV WERFTEN in partnership with Wolznautic and Corticeira Amorim, has enabled a weight reduction of seven tons per vessel. In addition to lightness and ease of installation, this cork composite solution provides greater thermal and acoustic comfort, and is a unique material, in technical and functional terms, offering tremendous benefits for this sector.
Cork never ceases to surprise us, due to the versatility of its applications. One example is Siemens' revolutionary Inspiro surface metro - the most modern, efficient and sustainable in its class. Introduced in Poland, this metro system combines elegant design with the latest technology and consumes less energy, thanks to a series of efficiency measures.
The use of an innovative cork flooring solution (Alucork) makes Siemens' metro one of the lightest ever - the floor is 30% lighter, compared to traditional models. In addition, it offers excellent technical performance, improved acoustics and thermal insulation.
Corticeira Amorim's solutions exploit cork’s natural lightness and the properties of acoustic and thermal insulation, in order to create innovative, safe, comfortable, attractive and environmentally sustainable interior systems. They are applied as a core in structures with high technical requirements - on floors and lateral/ceiling panels, as in the Inspiro metro system, or on benches, partitions and other possible locations.
When ecodesign is required, cork adds value to the concept, thanks to the versatility of its moulding processes and its associated environmental benefits. Integration of cork in the interior of Mazda's new 100% electric car, the MX-30, endows it with distinction and comfort, and helps it reduce its environmental footprint.
But the role of cork goes much further. In rail transport, cork applications are also used in infrastructures, for example in railway systems. Cork compounds are designed to be used as rail pads, baseplate, under sleeper pads and ballast mats. Available in a wide variety of thicknesses these materials provide different degrees of impact attenuation, for light and heavy rail applications, in slab and ballast track, used as well in special track works such as switching devices, level-crossings and viaducts.
In the automotive industry, cork’s excellent sealing ability has been well known for decades. Thanks to its continuous R&D, Corticeira Amorim is able to offer a broad range of sealing materials designed on the basis of flexible sealing technology, manufactured using unique blends of cork and selected rubbers.
Due to reduced side flow, these solutions enable larger contact areas and higher compression coefficients which guarantee an effective sealing barrier against potential flange surface imperfections, distortions and leakage paths.
Extensive material testing and application evaluation continues to drive the development of unique materials and solutions in this product family, while maintaining its recognition and track record in powertrain and non-powertrain applications such as oil pans, valve covers, radiators, automatic transmissions, axle covers, timing covers and wiper systems.