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Rotomolding renaissanceRotomolding renaissance

November 1, 2005

1 Min Read
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Replacing imprecise heating and cooling with a closed loop fully automated system, Persico SpA (Nembro, Italy) has introduced a new rotomolding machine that eliminates large ovens and allows molding of materials with tighter processing windows like polypropylene. Dubbed the Leonardo, the machine features automated material loading and part extraction so that a single operator can control four to eight machines.

Persico had offered the machine on a prototype basis for OEMs near its Milan, Italy headquarters, with models already producing fenders for shipbuilders, vases, fire extinguisher cabinets, and waste receptacles. Compared to a traditional rotomolding method, where several laborers manually load and unload molds and an open flame or an oven heats tools to 177ºC (350ºF) with cooling handled by sprayed water, the Leonardo is reported to use less energy and offer more precise temperature control, allowing rotomolders to move away from traditional roto materials like polyethylene or PVC.

In addition to reducing energy and labor costs, the Leonardo is also said to allow rotomolders to move away from aluminum molds mounted on steel frames, where the steel can oxidize from the water and heat, and repeated expansion and contraction of the two metals at disparate rates can cause warping.

The machine features a PLC for controls, and all operations-heating, cooling, loading, and unloading-take place in a single station, reportedly reducing floor space by 25% compared to a more traditional carousel arrangement. Persico SpA, Nembro, Italy; +39 035 4531 611; www.persico.com

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