Decoma International of America Inc and Advance USA LLC of Old Lyme CT have signed a licensing and manufacturing agreement to combine Advance USA's patented Strata technology and Decoma's Tier One program management and product design skills.
Applications of Strata being evaluated by Decoma include tonneau covers for light-truck beds, modular closeouts for hybrid SUVs, and roof systems for light trucks and passenger cars.
Strata is a composite system that molds several elements into strong, aesthetically pleasing structural parts that can weigh up to 40% less than conventional systems such as sheet molding compound (SMC). Strata parts can be finished in various methods, including mold-in-color, through the use of weatherable polymers.