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The radiator grille of the Audi Sport quattro is created again

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Created on December 22, 2025

Text:

Daniel Bachmann / Daniel Reinhard, translated by DeepL

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

21

Daniel Reinhard

21

The pressing tool is dried and cleaned with compressed air

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The pressing tool is cleaned

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For good quality, the pressing tool must be dry and clean

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Final cleaning of the pressing tool

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Placement of the raw material weighing around 1.9 kg

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The molds, heated to 140 to 150 degrees, are pressed together

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The machine compresses the material at a pressure of around 500 bar

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The press has done its work, the radiator grille is formed

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The next step is to remove the spare part from the mold

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The radiator grille is carefully lifted out of the mold

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The finished pressed radiator grille is removed for further processing

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Material residues are cut off

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It doesn't work without post-processing

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Processing residues are removed

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The molded part is cleaned of excess material

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Edges are sanded down

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Fine-tuning the corners and edges

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Manual work is required here

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Finishing touches at the end

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Naturally, several spare parts are manufactured in one batch

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The finished radiator grilles await their future buyers

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Für gute Qualität muss das Presswerkzeug trocken und sauber sein

Schlussreinigung des Presswerkzeugs

Auflegen des rund 1,9 kg schweren Rohmaterials

Die auf 140 bis 150 Grad erwärmten Formen werden zusammengepresst

Die Maschine presst das Material mit rund 500 bar Druck zusammen

Die Presse hat ihre Arbeit getan, der Kühlergrill ist geformt

Summary

They were almost lost, the pressing tools for spare parts for the Audi Sport quattro. But they were saved and the radiator grille, hood ventilation grille and bumpers for the rare Audi could be reproduced at Polyplex AG in Neunkirch. This article explains how it was done.

Estimated reading time: 3min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The old tools for the production of parts for the Audi Sport quattro were stored at Seeger and Hoffmann in Tägerwilen, the company was taken over by Dow Chemical. On a completely normal day, Daniel Bachmann is approached by an acquaintance of the company who wants to know: "Do you want to take over the old Audi parts? The company has been sold, you have to pick everything up today, tomorrow it will be disposed of!" Bachmann immediately organized a truck and brought the parts home and stored them. 20 years later, these tools took on a new meaning, as new parts were no longer available. After years of searching to find a suitable manufacturer, the company that had already produced the parts for Audi AG over 40 years ago was identified. It's the Polyplex AG in Neunkirch. It was a happy reunion and the enthusiasm was great when the first new parts could be produced with a waiting time of just one week. Zwischengas photographer Daniel Reinhard was there when the new parts were produced.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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Für gute Qualität muss das Presswerkzeug trocken und sauber sein

Schlussreinigung des Presswerkzeugs

Auflegen des rund 1,9 kg schweren Rohmaterials

Die auf 140 bis 150 Grad erwärmten Formen werden zusammengepresst

Die Maschine presst das Material mit rund 500 bar Druck zusammen

Die Presse hat ihre Arbeit getan, der Kühlergrill ist geformt

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