anvisgroup of Bad Soden-Salmünster, Germany, working in cooperation with Volkswagen, has developed the first catalytic converter bracket for cars to be made from an engineering thermoplastic. Due to its position – in close proximity to the engine where temperatures of up to 175 °C, high static and dynamic forces, moisture and chemicals combine – steel plates had previously been considered irreplaceable for such applications. Yet anvisgroup has proven the opposite by developing an innovative, two-component bracket based on glass-fibre reinforced DuPont Zytel nylon and rubber. Since mid-2006, the design has proven itself at the ‘hot end’ of exhaust systems on all new vehicles belonging to Volkswagen’s so-called Golf platform (PQ35).