Building on their successful collaboration in bra cup innovation, Wacoal and BASF are extending their co-creation into automotive interior applications with an armrest concept model that highlights the potential of advanced 3D fiber-based manufacturing and BASF's material solutions for lightweight, comfort-focused interior components with enhanced design freedom.
"At Wacoal, we are committed to combining high-quality materials, creativity and technical innovation to develop products that support people to live their daily lives in comfort and with confidence. Together with BASF, we are excited to extend the potential of our 'Melooop' technology beyond apparel into automotive interior applications," said Tsuyoshi Kumura, Corporate Officer, Head of Melooop Project Office, New Business Development Office and New Business Development Division.
Melooop is a proprietary three-dimensional fiber molding technology developed by Wacoal. Using a melt-blown nonwoven process, it forms and layers fibers simultaneously, enabling complex 3D structures to be created in a single step without adhesives or multi-layer assembly. This integrated approach reduces manufacturing steps, simplifies production, and minimizes material usage and waste, supporting lower environmental impact. It also enables mono-material design for improved recyclability. In addition, Melooop allows designers to adjust thickness and material properties early in development, helping to optimize the balance between weight, performance, and durability for automotive applications.
Elastollan(R) TPU enables the Melooop process by combining thermoplastic processability with elastomeric performance, allowing the formation of 3D-fiber structures that deliver both flexibility and structural integrity while supporting the mono-material designs that can simplify product design and manufacturing.
For occupant-contact surfaces such as armrests, this approach combines elastic recovery under repeated loading - ensuring long-term dimensional stability - with soft-touch performance and a robust processing window for fiber formation and bonding.
"Wacoal's innovation of its proprietary technology into new application areas strongly aligns with the forward-looking, co-creation approach we value at BASF," said Rohit Roop Ghosh, Vice President, Business Management TPU, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF. "With our expertise in material innovation and extensive experiences in automotive applications, we are pleased to partner Wacoal in exploring new concepts and bringing innovation into new industries."
The armrest concept model, featuring Wacoal's mono-material "Melooop" technology, will be presented at the BASF booth (booth number 309) at Automotive Engineering Expo Nagoya from June 17-19, 2026.
