An Interview with Automotive Interiors Expert Brian Gira
Brian Gira is one of Nye’s Regional Engineering Managers who assists automotive tier suppliers and OEM’s in finding lubrication solutions. He has over 20 years of experience as a sales engineer providing automotive companies with interior component solutions. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science Engineering from the University of Michigan.
What are some of the things that should be considered when selecting a lubricant for interior automotive components?
The typical role of a lubricant in automotive interiors is to reduce noise and friction and to offer a quality or “velvet” feel to manually controlled components. If the motion of these components is to be controlled (avoiding a harsh start or end point in the motion path), the engineer will want to focus on the lubricant’s ability to impart shear resistance into this path.
Grease odor should also be considered. Nye has worked diligently to offer products that are safe to breathe and do not contain additives with a strong smell that would deter a customer’s perception of quality.
If a lubrication point on a component will remain visible during the vehicle’s lifetime, it is important to consider the color of the grease. Nye offers greases that are clear, black, white, and gray (custom colors can also be made) to avoid a stark contrast to the neighboring components.
In terms of neighboring components, the grease’s compatibility with nearby plastics is important to consider. Some lubricants can “attack” certain plastics and elastomers. The base oil can infiltrate the solid material or cause the solid’s components to leach into the lubricant. Several of Nye’s greases for interior components are compatible with and will not damage polypropylenes, nylons, polyamides, ABS, polycarbonates, and acetals.
What role will lubricants play in electric vehicle interiors?
As vehicles transition from using noisy internal combustion engines to quiet electric motors, even low interior buzz, squeak, and rattle (BSR) noises become audible and need to be eliminated. Nye has several greases to combat these BSR issues while also controlling motion and providing a quality feel.
Additionally, as vehicles are becoming more autonomous, the need for reliable electrical connections to actuators, sensors, and controls has increased and become more important. These connectors need to ensure electrical connectivity for the life of the vehicle and must be ergonomically friendly for operators to join together on the assembly line. Nye’s electrical connector greases accomplish both of these requirements.
What trends can we expect to see in the automotive interior industry in the coming years?
The trend toward powertrain electrification and standardization has reduced the number of areas where car manufacturers can differentiate themselves from their competitors. One area where car manufacturers can win over customers is in the vehicle’s interior. Usually, the more an automotive company can offer in terms of the interior’s features and “creature comforts” the better it can attract prospective buyers. Many of these features require buttons and controls that operate best with motion control greases that provide a luxury feel. Nye’s new NyoGel® 975F was designed to offer a consistent quality feel across the design’s entire operational temperature range and avoid that hard-to-turn knob feel that we all experience when first getting into our vehicles.
What is your favorite part about working for Nye?
After working here for 2 years I still find myself learning something new about Nye’s products or the applications we serve almost every day. This speaks to the entire staff’s willingness to share knowledge and best practices with one another. Our technical team is second to none, and our R&D and Test Lab teams are very creative in their development of new products based on the challenges brought in from the sales team’s input from our customer base. And finally, working with my customers to solve their often-complex design challenges is a great, rewarding feeling.