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Complex liquid silicone demo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The jet technology by itself is nothing new for FST and has already been fi eld-tested with liquid silicone. This project involved delicate, so-called micro-core borings carried out in a two-component design, and it was new to the market. Only a few producers have dared to tackle a design of this kind. \u201cTwo-component, now that is in a league of its own,\u201d Gede said. It makes handling easier for the customer and allows greater freedom of design. The new, highly complex, demo product is made of liquid silicone. Formed into several strip-shaped circles, it creates a fi rm bond with a main body made of a thermoplastic \u2013 the second part of the component.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The project posed a range of challenges. FST\u2019s facility in \u00d6hringen specializes in liquid silicone technology, and Product Manager Denis Glonning cited some of the issues: \u201cWe had to find a combination of materials that adhered to one another reliably and could be produced in consistent quality with a dependable process without rework. Both the delicate borings and the size of the component posed special challenges. As it is removed from the tool, thermoplastics of this size and thickness tend to deform.\u201d A word about the tool: The price of a tool is an indication of how demanding a job is, and this one costs as much as a Rolls Royce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another of Freudenberg\u2019s strengths came into play. The machinery at the \u00d6hringen site, where FST\u2019s expertise for such tasks is concentrated, was unable to execute the project. A solution was found within the same FST division at the company\u2019s Losenstein, Austria facility a few hundred kilometers away. \u201cLosenstein had the right machine as well as ample experience with the two-component technology,\u201d Glonning said. So in the same \u201cInnovating Together\u201d spirit, another partner teamed up with the customer and FST\u2019s experts in \u00d6hringen. The results were fast in coming and recently the new two-component jet body went into series production at the Austrian site. Feedback from the market and the target quantities are promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The successful cooperation on the prestigious product holds out the prospect of more business. \u201cTwo projects with similar volumes are nearing a decision,\u201d said Andreas Schmitt, Global Segment Director, Sales GI, said. Once again, they involve jet bodies for showerheads. But in these cases, the products are one-component variations without thermoplastic base bodies. Still, they demand precision in the micrometer range and promote wellness in the bathroom of your home.<\/p>\n