Fakuma 2017
Successful Presentation at the Fakuma
For the first time, the particle foam machines business unit was represented at the international plastics processing fair Fakuma in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. Kurtz Ersa exhibited the new THERMO FOAMER at the joint stand with business partner Krallmann. Background: driven by E-mobility and the resulting lightweight engineering solutions, processors of plastics must achieve new solutions for new requirements.
Intelligent combination of
particle foam and injection moulding
Kurtz Ersa has developed a method of combining particle foam and injection moulding, making the THERMO FOAMER an interesting option for injection moulding companies. The 25th Fakuma – with 1,889 exhibitors on an area of 85,000 m² the second largest plastics fair in the world for injection moulding machines, extrusion systems, thermo-forming technology and tool systems – was the perfect platform for this. A total of 48,375 expert visitors from 128 countries visited the five-day trade fair in mid-October.
Patented method for EPP shape moulded production
The new particle foam machine uses a method patented by Krallmann for producing foamed EPP shaped parts in combination with a tool made by T. Michel Formenbau. In the first step, a foamed part is produced from EPP that can then be overmoulded with polypropylene (PP) without the particle foam collapsing. This technique combines the advantages of light foam with the higher strength of injection moulding. The in-house developed THERMO FOAMER allows shaped parts to be produced within a very tight tolerance window. These can then be overmoulded directly in a downstream injection moulding machine. Here, the steam required for bonding the EPP beads is reduced to 30 percent of the amount required by the conventional process.
Since injection moulding companies do not usually have a central steam supply available, this steam can be produced by a small steam generator next to the processing machine. A simulation of the THERMO FOAMER was on show, promoting the live demonstration during the in-house fair in mid-November at the Kreuzwertheim-Wiebelbach site. Numerous successful talks took place with positive feedback from customers and potential customers who wished to sound out the benefits of using this new particle foam machine. These talks are certain to lead to a number of concrete projects. This allows us to take a positive view of the future – linked with the conviction that Kurtz Ersa will make a long-term contribution to the fulfilment of climate targets with this new development.