- The debut collaborative concept car armrest demonstrates the 3D fibre forming manufacturing process tailored for automotive interior components
- Highlights the strengths of Wacoal’s proprietary Melooop technology in monomaterial design and adhesive-free structures
June 17, 2026 – Building on their existing cooperation in the sportswear bra segment, BASF and Wacoal have recently unveiled their first concept car armrest model, extending their joint innovation collaboration into the automotive interior sector. This concept prototype showcases the great application potential of advanced 3D fibre forming technology, as well as the value of BASF’s material solutions in developing lightweight, comfort-focused interior components. Meanwhile, it unlocks greater design freedom for automotive interior development.
Tsuyoshi Hisamura, Corporate Officer, Head of New Business Development Division, General Manager of New Business Development Department and Melooop Business Leader at Wacoal Holdings Corporation, commented: “At Wacoal, we have always been committed to combining high-quality materials, creative design and technological innovation to develop products that bring comfort and confidence to people in daily life. We are delighted to join hands with BASF to expand the application scope of Melooop technology from apparel to automotive interiors, so as to further tap the full potential of this proprietary technology.”
Melooop is a patented 3D melt-blown process independently developed by Wacoal. It enables one-step direct forming of targeted shapes from raw fibres without adhesives or multi-layer assembly, producing integrated non-woven structures. This one-piece manufacturing method cuts down production procedures, streamlines manufacturing workflows, reduces material consumption and production waste, thereby helping enterprises lower overall environmental footprints. In addition, the process supports full monomaterial construction, which drastically improves the recyclability of finished parts. Designers can also flexibly adjust the thickness and material performance of components at the early design stage via Melooop technology, perfectly balancing automotive industry requirements for lightweight construction, comprehensive performance and long-term durability.
BASF Elastollan® TPU combines excellent thermoplastic processability and superior elastomer properties. It supports the fabrication of flexible yet dimensionally stable 3D fibre structures and serves as an ideal material match for the Melooop process. The collaboration not only broadens product design boundaries, but also simplifies the whole workflow from product design to mass manufacturing.
For frequently touched automotive interior parts such as armrests, components manufactured with this integrated technology feature outstanding elastic recovery performance and long-term dimensional stability under repeated compression loads. They deliver soft and premium tactile comfort for passengers, alongside a stable and wide processing window for fibre forming and bonding operations.
Rohit Roop Ghosh, Vice President, Head of TPU Business Management, Performance Materials Asia Pacific at BASF, stated: “We are pleased to support Wacoal in expanding its proprietary technological innovation into a brand-new application field, which is highly aligned with BASF’s forward-looking open innovation and co-creation philosophy. Leveraging our professional expertise in material innovation and rich application experience in the global automotive industry, we look forward to cooperating with more innovative partners like Wacoal to explore cutting-edge design concepts and accelerate the industrialisation and commercialisation of pioneering solutions.”
The monomaterial concept car armrest adopting Wacoal’s Melooop technology will be exhibited at BASF Booth 309 during the Automotive Engineering Expo Nagoya, held from June 17 to 19, 2026 in Nagoya, Japan.
