奇美、LG化学、英力士的ABS副牌,真不是你想的那种"次料"

产品中心 发布时间: 2026-09-12 3561 阅读

Many people think that ABS sub-brands are 'defective products that failed quality inspection,' equating them with defective items.

This misunderstanding delayed quite a few car interior part manufacturers. As soon as they heard the words 'sub-brand,' they shook their heads: isn't that just recycled material, defective material? They could tolerate paying a bit more for the main brand and could endure the risks of recycled material, but a sub-brand? Forget it, forget it.

So what happened? On one side, the official brand was being bought ton by ton, with profits as thin as a razor blade; on the other side, the neighboring factory used the same major factory's sub-brand, cut the cost of interior panels, and still kept the delivery schedule stable. Think about it, really think about it—the problem isn't the materials, it's the understanding.

Today, we'll break down the ABS category, the three major international manufacturers you can't ignore globally, and exactly what makes their sub-brands 'sub', explaining it in detail.

ABS is not a kind of material; it's three personalities molded together.

ABS, scientifically known as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, consists of three monomers, each contributing its own qualities: acrylonitrile provides strength and chemical resistance, butadiene provides toughness and impact resistance, and styrene provides surface gloss and ease of processing. Combining these three 'personalities' together gives ABS its 'drop-resistant, attractive, and easy-to-mold' reputation. It's found everywhere: in home appliance casings, car interiors, toys, and luggage.

Global ABS production capacity is highly concentrated, with the top few companies controlling the majority of the market. Excluding mainland manufacturers, the leading players in the overseas camps are: Taiwan's Chi Mei, South Korea's LG Chem, Germany's INEOS Styrolution, with SABIC and Formosa Plastics also on the fringe of the front lineup. A note on metrics: by capacity, Chi Mei has long been at the top, with an annual capacity of over one million tons; by market share and high-end grades, LG Chem is catching up closely. Which of the two is number one depends on which report you refer to. But the three—Chi Mei, LG Chem, and INEOS Styrolution—are recognized in the industry as the 'big three ABS manufacturers,' and that is undisputed.

ABS secondary-grade material isn't cheap because it's poor quality; it's the batch of polymer from the original factory where individual indicators just didn't meet the top standard.

Secondary grade refers to the portion of products from the same manufacturer and same grade that do not fully meet the standard indicators during factory inspection. For the same batch of polymer product, if all indicators meet the standards, it is labeled as the primary grade, while slight deviations in individual indicators are labeled as secondary grade. It is still the original factory's native particles; the ABS terpolymer molecular structure is the same as the primary grade, and it is not made by crushing waste shells and then re-pelletizing.

Where does it come from? Four sources: unstable material from start-stop of the installation (head and tail material), transitional material from grade switching, batches with slight deviations in melt index, color, or impact due to process fluctuations, and tail material from the secondary line.

Boundaries must be clearly defined:

TypeSourceQualityTypical uses
Authentic brandOriginal factory standard batchAll indicators meet the standards, batch stabilityHigh appearance, certified parts
Side dishOriginal factory substandard batchIndividual indicators slightly deviate, but the base material is consistent with the genuine brandInterior parts, color-matched parts, internal components
Recycled material / Sprue materialRegranulation of processing scrapsHas undergone one heat historyLow requirement part
Recycled materialRecycled Plastic PelletizingPerformance fluctuates greatlylow-end parts, fillers

To put it plainly, a sub-brand is the 'close sibling' of the main brand, only missing a checkmark in one aspect of the evaluation; a recycled part is an 'outsider,' still carrying the heated history from its previous life. Don't confuse the two.

Chimei: Once POLYLAC is released, distributors all rush for it

Chimei Industrial in Taiwan is one of the leading manufacturers in the world in terms of ABS production capacity. Its flagship grade is called POLYLAC, and people in the home appliance and toy industries are extremely familiar with this brand. The company follows a large-scale approach, can control the cost of general-purpose materials, and produces in large batches with wide circulation.

Characteristics of Chi Mei's secondary grades: large quantity, with grade numbers concentrated in general-purpose and heat-resistant grades. The secondary grades that come out often classify under melt index and color, and the base material has solid toughness. Because of the high production volume, the supply of secondary grades is relatively stable, suitable for high-volume interior panels, instrument panel bases, and interior pillars where 'appearance matters but zero defects are not required.' Applicable scenarios: automotive interior parts, home appliance panels, enclosures.

LG Chem: The LUPILON line is strong in heat resistance and flame retardancy

South Korea's LG Chem ranks among the top in the world in the ABS business, with their flagship grade called LUPILON. Their ABS products especially put a lot of effort into heat-resistant and flame-retardant grades, following the benefits brought by the upgrades in electric vehicles and electronic appliances.

Characteristics of LG Chem's sub-brands: Medium- to high-end grades are released, with deviations usually concentrated in 'non-critical' indicators such as heat resistance temperature or flame retardant level. Using them for general automotive interior substrates—parts that do not directly contact high-heat sources and do not require certification—is just right. The base material's impact resistance and surface gloss are on par with the main brand, saving the premium associated with certification. Suitable applications: automotive interior substrates, general home appliance internal components, non-flame-retardant enclosures.

Inelis Benzene Leader: Terluran, the fine craftsmanship of old Europe

INEOS Styrolution, headquartered in Germany, is a veteran in the styrene-based plastics industry. Its flagship ABS grade is called Terluran. Although the company is not as large-scale as Chi Mei, it has a solid reputation for impact resistance, aging resistance, and low volatility, which are important indicators for automotive interiors.

Characteristics of the secondary brand of INEOS Styrolution: The batches are not large but the material is high-quality, often falling into categories like color hue or weld line appearance—issues that don't affect function but may impact appearance. Using it for automotive interior parts that are hidden behind trim panels and not very visible can save much compared to using virgin material. Applicable scenarios: interior frames, clips, brackets, non-visible structural components.

Choosing ABS sub-brands, you can't avoid these pitfalls

The ABS sub-brand looks convenient, but in practice, there are quite a few pitfalls.

First, see whether the deviations are important to your product. If you are making interior panels and the surface needs painting, don’t bother with off-brand materials if the color is slightly off; if you are making hidden skeleton parts, small color variations don’t matter at all. Second, check for volatile substances. Car interiors are sensitive to VOCs and odors; although off-brand materials come from the original factory, batch fluctuations may cause slightly higher volatiles, so it is recommended to test them before installation. Third, look at packaging traceability. Official factory off-brand materials can be distributed in large or small packages, and the original factory bags and batch numbers need to match.

There's another pitfall: buying heat-resistant secondary brands as if they were general-purpose secondary brands. The price difference between heat-resistant ABS and general-purpose ABS is not small. Some suppliers use general-purpose secondary brands to pass off as heat-resistant secondary brands, which will deform after being in the oven for two months. Before placing an order, check the grade against the specification sheet.

Cologne Warehouse Spot|ABS Spot

Main promoted brands: Chimei, LG Chem, Invista Phenylene

Main grades: POLYLAC, LUPILON, Terluran

Packaging specifications: both large and small packages are in stock

Warehouse stock usually ranges from 2000-5000 tons: small sub-brand stock is 300-600 tons, sub-brand containerized stock is 150-300 tons, large packages/ton are 1500-4100 tons

Supply guarantee: batch samples are traceable

That company in Shanghai that makes automotive interior panels uses sub-brands as a cost-cutting main force

There is a factory in Shanghai that makes automotive interior parts, and in recent years has been struggling with costs. Genuine ABS costs a ton is expensive, and interior panels aren't high-level appearance certification parts, so using only genuine ABS is really painful; They didn't dare touch the return parts, and they couldn't pass the factory inspection.

Later, they split the interior panels into two parts: the "exterior surface" and the "base layer": the exterior continued to use the genuine plate to ensure quality, while the base and frame trimmed a batch of Chimei POLYLAC sub-plates and INEOS Terluran sub-plates, specifically selecting batches with slight color deviation but with impact and melt finger that met the bottom line. Before cutting, the melt index and volatiles were tested, confirming no high-temperature parts were touched before installation.

calculated, the base material saved 400 to 500 yuan per ton, the overall cost of the vehicle interior panel dropped by about 10%, and the yield rate remained stable around 96%, passing the factory inspection in one go. This is the correct use of the subsidiary plate—not replacing the genuine plate, but the accounting for "using the genuine badge for the visible brand, using the secondary badge for the hidden ones." Ningbo Kelong New Materials Co., Ltd. has been making imported ABS sub-brands for years, and has produced many similar matching solutions every year. Simply put, they help you distinguish "which parts in a product have genuine plates and which ones have sub-plates."

Eight Mnemonics: How to use ABS sub-plates

1. Use genuine plates for visible exterior parts, and put sub-plates on hidden structural parts;

2. First: Chi Mei, LG Chem, INEOS styrene collars; original factory outflows are stable;

3. Chi Mei secondary brands are mass-driven, LG Chem secondary brands are heat-resistant, INEOS secondary brands are impact-resistant;

4. Before installing interior parts, send them for inspection of volatiles and odors;

5. Don't use a generic secondary brand to pass off as a heat-resistant secondary brand—bake for two months and the filling will show up;

6. Melt fingers and tint may drift in small ranges; use color and base parts as you like;

7. Check the original factory label for packaging; both large and small packages should be traceable;

8. Small batch tests and then mass-produce, keep samples and chase batches.

Anyone who makes car interiors, home appliance shells, or toy luggage has never flipped a car on ABS?

Is it that in summer, when the car interior is sun-dryed, the interior parts peel up? Or does the paint peel off with a single spray spray? Or maybe you bought a batch of "sub-brands" cheaply, only to find it crispy like potato chips after testing?

Information and Data Source

- Dataintelo "Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Resin Market" Market Report, 2026, Capacity/Market Share Basis

- Hony Plastic "What Is ABS Sheet" Global ABS Production Capacity Summary, March 2026

- Verified Market Research "Top ABS Companies" Market Share Analysis, February 2026

- SpecForge "ABS Plastic Market Share by Manufacturer: 2026 Capacity Map," September 2026

- The above information

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