KraussMaffei highlights new technologies at PU China 2015

KRAUSSMAFFEI will showcase its latest range of components made from polyurethane and fiber-reinforced composites at the upcoming PU China 2015, which will run from August 31 to September 2 in Guangzhou, China.

The company, which leverages extensive machine-based and process technology-related expertise, will highlight modular oval conveyor systems for automotive seats, new mold carriers, Clear Coat Molding (CCM) technology, and high-pressure resin transfer molding (HP-RTM) and the long-fiber injection (LFI) processes. It will present various structural and visible components produced using these KraussMaffei technologies during the three-day trade event.

KraussMaffei’s show exhibits will include a range of components made from solid and lightweight fiber composite materials that can be manufactured with the surface quality needed for product components with high visibility. These include the LFI process ideal for large-format, contoured parts for trucks and agricultural machinery, and the HP-RTM process for making carbon- or glass fiber-reinforced lightweight parts in a fully automated process suitable for series production.

KraussMaffei’s modular oval conveyor systems, which the company has been producing at its Haiyan, China facility since 2012, feature fast and simple mold carrier changes for short setup times. In addition to high precision and quality, they can reliably process up to six components. Targeted at the Asian market,  these are ideal for the manufacture of foamed seats for the automotive industry.

Delivery comprises the dry side equipment, the actual oval conveyor with carriage and mold carriers, safety technology, a vacuum extractor, and other peripheral components. The wet side equipment, mixing and metering systems, and mixing heads are shipped from the company headquarters in Munich, Germany.

According to Christian Blatt, CEO of the KraussMaffei Group in China, "We were able to reduce the transport and service paths substantially through local production. That is something our customers in China and Southeast Asia value."

Backed by expertise in injection molding and reaction process machinery, KraussMaffei provides leading and innovative technologies and systems for processing thermoplastic and thermoset matrix systems from a single source. It offers a diverse line of mold carriers for processing polyurethane. It has a double-shuttle mold carrier for LFI applications, in particular large components such as tractor roof modules, radiator grilles for trucks, and interior paneling. The company’s electric mold carrier is ideal for back-foaming of instrument panels. Its WinCap mold carrier is for window encapsulation and other applications, including solar panels.

The CCM process developed by the company allows for an automated process to achieve a premium look for a vehicle’s interior such as a fine wood trim. CCM enables enhancements with a scratch-resistant coating in a single work step, with the automated process using a clear two-component PU system to coat the wood very thinly. The volume fluctuations resulting from the natural structure of the wood is compensated by the company’s patented cavity pressure regulation to ensure optimal filling of the cavity at all times.