Machinery makers target automotive at K

At the show, injection molding machinery and automation supplier Engel (Stand 15B42) will produce a molded polyamide steering column on its stand. Novel here is the fact that the steering column is reinforced with organic sheet, rather than the traditional steel or aluminum. The component is made in a three-robot manufacturing cell built around an Engel duo 2050/500 pico. An application utilizing the company’s clearmelt technology will also highlight Engel’s automotive offerings. At the show, and Engel e-motion 280 T will use clearmelt to back-inject a wood-look film with a thermoplastic carrier, and then cover the part with a transparent PUR layer for scratch resistance.

German machinery manufacturer KraussMaffei (KM; Stand 15C24) partnered with acrylic (PMMA) supplier Evonik Röhm (Stand 6B28) to develop a one-shot series-production method for components that have scratch and chemical-proof coatings. The resulting technology reportedly can replace as many as 14 steps with only one. Called CoverForm, the process involves the injection molding of a PMMA part where a functional layer that’s 10-100 μm thick is applied in the mold immediately following injection. In addition to automotive parts, KM and Evonik see potential for the process in household appliances and mobile phones. Evonik developed a special material that combines a Plexiglas CF compound for the substrate with a solvent-free acrylate-based two-component reactive system for the coating.

KraussMaffei, which is running a CX 200-750 hybrid injection molding machine with the process at its booth, optimized its small-volume metering unit to dispense the liquid reactive system into the cavity of the mold.

Thermoforming targets auto
Cut-sheet thermoforming continues to make inroads into the automotive sector, with several machinery suppliers at K looking to highlight capabilities in that market, among others. Parco Srl says its cut-sheet thermoforming machine configurations, which include single-station and rotary machines with vacuum, pressure, and twin-sheet systems, can handle a variety of parts from small to very large. Parco, which participated in the most recent Fakuma and Plast events, will follow on the Italian launch of its S15 model machine in Düsseldorf. That machine, which features frame reduction and adjustable clamping plates, has obtained two patents in Europe.

American-based thermoforming machinery supplier Brown Machine (Stand 13B91-29), which is located in the American Pavilion, will be emphasizing all its equipment, tooling, and process capabilities for “virtually every market from virtually every thermoformable material,” according to VP marketing, Jim Robbins. Robbins will be in attendance along with Brown president, Bryan Redman, and VP sales, Bill Kent.

Circular welding for previously “unthinkable” automotive production
bielomatik Leuze GmbH + Co. KG (Stand 11G60) says the circular welding it will highlight at K allows serial production that isn’t possible with competitive joining technologies. bielomatik notes that the advantages and disadvantages of the linear friction welding are known, particularly the fact that the dominant welding direction has its limit in dividing profiles. In circular welding, however, the company says no one welding directions takes precedence over another. The result is a double-dimensional system without spring-centering. This also allows the joining zone to enter into a homogeneous connection during the cool-off phase.