Versatility increases demand for polyurethane

"The demand for long-life, light and at the same time economical polyurethane solutions shows no signs of letting up. This meanwhile applies not only for the automotive industry, but also for other branches of industry such as construction, the E+E industry, transport, the sports and recreation industry and medical technology," says Steffen Bauer, Sales Manager Germany, Reaction Process Machinery, at KraussMaffei. "The PSE Europe, the first international specialist trade show with a clear focus on the processing of polyurethane, provides us with an outstanding opportunity to present our multifaceted, modular solutions to a broad specialist public from the most diverse sectors."

▲ Molds for flexible foam applications are used, for example in car interiors, for dashboards, door panels and door armrests

The offer of KraussMaffei Reaction Process Machinery comprises tailored solutions for the foaming of polyurethane systems, state-of-the-art surface technologies such as the ColorForm or CCM processes (clear-coat molding for flow-coating real wood in car interiors), and solutions for the automated series production of fiber composite lightweight components. Typical applications for foamed polyurethane systems are, for example, soft, hard or integral foam solutions in car interiors such as seats, steering wheels or dashboards, as well as in the furniture industry, for example armrests for office chairs. In the white goods segment, hard foam systems are used for insulation foaming, for example for refrigerators or boilers. The construction industry too uses the excellent insulating and damping properties of polyurethane, for example for insulating panels or pipe foaming.

"A major advantage of the KraussMaffei solutions here is their modularity. This applies both for our metering machines and mixing heads, and for our mold carriers and systems, foam molds, or cutting technologies such as punching and milling," says Bauer. KraussMaffei thus offers, for example, a large range of high-pressure mixing and metering systems as pump machines (RimStar and EcoStar), piston engines (Comet) or as a combination of both (hybrid). The same modularity applies for mixing heads: the tailored linear, transfer, spray or special mixing heads from KraussMaffei with variable output rates from 5 g/sec to 10,000 g/sec provide the right solution for all production requirements. The nozzle elements of the 2- to 6-component versions are customized to the production requirements and processing parameters.

Solution providers along the entire value chain

In addition, KraussMaffei is one of the few solution providers worldwide that can provide all services along the polyurethane value creation chain entirely from a single source – from machines to mold and trimmer technology to process solutions for wet and dry side equipment, including automation. KraussMaffei also offers the testing of components with the business area of Automotive Testing. "We support our customers with the conception of the appropriate machines and procedures, starting with design and simulation, and through to test runs and prototype testing. With our three technology centers in Munich, Harderberg and Viersen, we offer our customers ideal opportunities for testing, optimizing and further developing their processes in practice on test vehicles or on initial prototype components." The TechCenter in Munich boasts a combination of systems and processes for reaction and injection molding machinery that is unlike anything else in the world. This includes, for example, the most diverse lightweight construction processes such as the HP-RTM process (resin transfer molding), the wet molding process and the long fiber injection process, as well as surface technologies such as the ColorForm or the CCM process. Even traditional RIM (reaction injection molding) or R-RIM (reinforced reaction injection molding) foaming technologies can be run in the TechCenter. In Harderberg, KraussMaffei offers the testing and simulation of foam molds, while in the TechCenter in Viersen the different cutting and trimming systems, such as stamping and milling, are available for test purposes.

KraussMaffei Competence Day Pultrusion

The Competence Day Pultrusion will be taking place concurrently with the PSE Europe on June 28 at KraussMaffei in Munich. The focus will be on the new iPul pultrusion system, which doubles the previous manufacturing speeds in the pultrusion process for the production of highly filled, fiber-reinforced plastic components. The new iPul system will produce a hollow profile with dimensions of 40 x 40 mm. the Competence Day will be accompanied by specialist presentations and exhibitions by the partners Thomas Technik, Evonik, Huntsman, Covestro and the Fraunhofer IGCV. More information at http://www.kraussmaffei.com/rpm-de/competence-day-pultrusion.html

KraussMaffei at the PSE Europe
Booth 310