Kolon Spaceworks Advances Mobility Lightweighting with Molded-in-Color Composites

▷ Named a finalist in the Process, Assembly & Enabling Technologies category at the 2026 SPE Automotive Innovation Awards in the U.S.
▷ Applies LFI technology to the Kia PV5 hood, reducing weight by 32% and tooling investment costs by 80% compared with steel
▷ Eliminates the painting process to improve production efficiency and demonstrate the potential for broader use of composites in mobility

Kolon Spaceworks, Kolon Group’s advanced composite materials solutions company, has earned global recognition for its composite hood for mobility applications, manufactured using long fiber injection (LFI) molding technology.

Kolon Spaceworks was named a finalist in the Process, Assembly & Enabling Technologies category at the 2026 SPE Automotive Innovation Awards ceremony, held on November 4, local time, in Livonia, Michigan, U.S. Now in its 55th year, the awards program is organized by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) and annually recognizes innovative technologies and products incorporating plastics and composites in automotive applications.

This year, 28 companies and products from the global automotive plastics and composites industry were selected as finalists. Competing alongside automakers and materials and component suppliers, Kolon Spaceworks demonstrated its global competitiveness by showcasing its composite molding and mass production capabilities just two years after its official launch in 2024.

The finalist product was the “Molded-in-Color Composite Hood,” manufactured and supplied by Kolon Spaceworks for Kia’s PV5 purpose-built vehicle (PBV). The hood incorporates LFI technology, combining a thermoformed composite sheet for the exterior surface with long-fiber-reinforced polyurethane. By achieving the required color and surface finish within the mold, the process eliminates the painting stage required for conventional steel hoods.

Using LFI composite molding technology, Kolon Spaceworks reduced the hood’s weight by approximately 32%, or 2.4 kg, and cut tooling investment costs by approximately 80% compared with a conventional steel hood. The hood also meets the pedestrian head impact test criteria of the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), demonstrating its suitability for mass production while delivering safety and durability.

Building on this recognition, Kolon Spaceworks plans to extend the application of LFI composite molding technology beyond hoods to other exterior body components. The company will continue developing mass production technologies that improve both lightweighting and production efficiency, further strengthening the competitiveness of its mobility composites business serving global automakers.

Officially launched in 2024, Kolon Spaceworks is broadening its presence as a key partner for future industries by building an integrated technology platform spanning materials development, design, and manufacturing across advanced sectors, including aviation, mobility, defense, and space.