Hyundai Kia MS210-01 Marking of Materials for Automotive Parts

The standard "Hyundai Kia MS210-01 Marking of Materials for Automotive Parts," developed by Hyundai-Kia Motors, addresses the marking of materials. The aim of this standard is to prevent the use of different material designations for the same materials, to facilitate the separation of materials for recycling and disposal by expanding the identification of materials during end-of-life vehicle processing, and to increase the efficiency of the materials processing process.

According to this standard, plastic parts weighing more than 100 grams and rubber parts weighing more than 200 grams should be marked based on homogeneous material.

The marking of parts produced for the automotive industry is defined by this specification.

The general requirements in this standard are determined as follows:

• General parts and containers shall be marked according to the marking method, pattern and size shown in the table in this standard.
• The identification must be placed so that it can be easily read from the disassembled part and the separated materials.
• The marking should be easily identifiable at the end of the vehicle's life cycle.
• Capital letters and branding must be used, and there must be no space between letter and letter, letter and branding.
• Marking should mainly be engraved in the mold (embossing, carving), if this is not possible, it can be replaced by printing, branding, laser marking, stamping, etc.
• Marking must be used in conjunction with other part identification such as part number, manufacturer, and production date.

In the fast-paced world of automotive engineering, where safety, durability, and regulatory compliance are paramount, material specifications form the backbone of vehicle production. Hyundai and Kia have developed a comprehensive suite of material standards to guide material selection, testing, and application in their vehicles. Among these, Hyundai Kia's MS210-01 stands out as a fundamental standard focused on material marking and identification for automotive parts. Addressing molded plastics and related components, this standard, a pioneer in ensuring material integrity in automotive manufacturing, plays a crucial role in supply chain transparency, environmental compliance, and quality assurance. MS210-01 and similar standards are vital for maintaining the integrity of components, from instrument panels to under-hood components.

Hyundai Kia standards are guidelines designed to ensure that every component in its vehicles meets stringent performance criteria. The MS210 series targets plastics and polymers commonly found in interior, exterior, and functional assemblies due to their lightweight, cost-effective, and versatile properties. Among these, the MS210-01 series of standards focuses on a more universal topic: material marking. This involves labeling parts with standard codes, symbols, and information to facilitate traceability, recycling, and regulatory compliance.

The Hyundai Kia MS210-01 standard includes protocols for identifying materials in vehicle components. This standard mandates clear and durable markings that include:

• Material type codes: Use of international symbols for plastics, such as those in the ISO 1043 standard (e.g. “PP” for polypropylene or “ABS” for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).
• Recyclability indicators: Symbols that indicate whether the material is recyclable, in line with global directives such as the European Union's end-of-life vehicle directive.
• Manufacturer and part information: Batch numbers, supplier IDs and production dates for full traceability.
• Hazard alerts: Flags for restricted substances in conjunction with relevant standards, such as MS201-02, which bans heavy metals in automotive parts.

The marking must be resistant to environmental influences such as heat, humidity, and abrasion, ensuring legibility throughout the vehicle's lifespan, which can exceed 15 years. In practice, the MS210-01 standard applies to a wide variety of components, from interior trim panels to exterior trim and even under-hood wiring harnesses. For example, a dashboard component might carry a molded "ABS" symbol alongside a Hyundai Kia-specific code, allowing recyclers to efficiently separate it at the end of its lifespan.

In today's world of stringent environmental regulations and circular economy principles, the MS 210-01 standard is much more than a bureaucratic formality; it's a strategic tool. Material marking is important for the following reasons:

• Regulatory compliance:
  • Global compliance: This standard supports European compliance with ISO 11469 for plastics labeling and the REACH directive. It also complies with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines on hazardous substances.
  • Heavy metal bans: In conjunction with this standard, it helps enforce bans on lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium, reducing e-waste toxicity.
• Supply chain traceability: Suppliers submitting data through the International Material Data System (IMD), a platform mandated by Hyundai Kia for parts approval, must comply with this standard. This standard requires verified markings on initial sample inspection reports for new or modified parts.
• Sustainability and recycling: Hyundai Kia aims for 100 percent recyclable vehicles by 2030, and this standard simplifies dismantling. Marked parts simplify sorting at recycling facilities and increase material recovery rates from the current 85 percent to near-perfect levels.
• Quality assurance: Testing according to this standard includes durability checks such as rub tests or UV exposure to verify the permanence of the marking.

In short, the Hyundai Kia MS210-01 standard is the cornerstone of producing safe, sustainable, and superior vehicles. By requiring clear material identification, it not only ensures compliance but also enables a greener automotive future.

Our organization, with its competent and experienced team, has been understanding the needs of its customers for years, providing them with the advanced testing services they need, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. In this context, we also provide testing services in accordance with the Hyundai Kia MS210-01 "Marking of Materials for Automotive Parts" standard.