Glass encapsulation from a single source
Encapsulating vehicle windows with machine technology from Hennecke and BBG
One of the current trends for new vehicles is fitting them with sliding and panoramic roofs made of glass. The glass encapsulation method is used to manufacture these roofs. The vehicle windows and fastening plates are encapsulated in a mould with a rigid polyurethane variant so that a pre-finished component is produced. Until now, the manufacturers of the roof glass had to assemble and adapt the production technology from different manufacturers themselves. With the GlassLine, the system supplier BBG has been offering the world's first polyurethane casting machine specifically designed for encapsulating vehicle windows since 2015. In combination with the high-quality BBG mould carrier systems and BBG moulds, users can thus draw on efficient end-to-end solutions.
Thanks to the GlassLine with its tried and tested Hennecke technology, the mould, machine and plant manufacturer BBG is able to offer end-to-end solutions for encapsulating vehicle glass from a single source. Due to the close cooperation of both partners and common standards, BBG can now guarantee a consistently high quality for complete lines. Up to now, the company was only able to give this assurance for the mould carrier systems and moulds for polyurethane processing, which it has been very successfully developing and manufacturing in Mindelheim and marketing across the world for a number of years now. Hans Brandner, managing partner of BBG, is convinced of the innovation's market opportunities: "Glassline is a technological high-end product, the only one of its kind in the world. It combines Hennecke's comprehensive experience in terms of reaction moulding machinery and our long years of expertise regarding the encapsulation of automotive glass. In this way we define a new standard for glass encapsulation."
In its standard form, the two-component metering machine is designed as the "GlassLine 650/270" for a maximum output of 650 cm3/s polyol and 270 cm3/s isocyanate. Around 80 percent of all passenger vehicle and utility vehicle glass panes can be encapsulated this way. Special variants of the GlassLine for glass in soft-top convertibles with different mixture ratios and outputs are also available. The GlassLine is based on a TOPLINE metering machine from Hennecke, which has been specifically optimised for glass encapsulation in close collaboration with BBG. The machines of the TOPLINE series offer high-end metering and mixing technology with top-quality metering pumps. Due to the modular structure, they can be easily extended in accordance with the plug-and-play principle for a higher production capacity.
They can be expanded up to eight casting stations without any problems. All process parameters are recorded and documented as standard in order to enable seamless quality control. During the development of the GlassLine, special emphasis was placed on its user-friendliness. Along with an ergonomic machine layout, operators benefit from the innovative control concept WINTRONIC. This guarantees maximum machine availability due to integrated safety, auxiliary and troubleshooting functions. In addition to the process data acquisition, there is an option for incorporating the control into higher-level production systems. A large touchscreen panel of the latest generation with an ergonomic and intuitive user interface ensures a logical and simple display of the complex processes thanks to user-orientated visualisation.The GlassLine is equipped with a type MT 12-2 Hennecke mixhead, which has a flow-optimised nozzle geometry. This ensures a perfect mixing result. At the same time, the components polyol and isocyanate can be fed at a lower pressure, as a result of which the energy consumption drops by 30 percent compared with conventional models. With a simple adapter plate, the mixhead can be easily mounted to all moulds on the market. Since the start of the project cooperation in 2015, BBG has already sold several complete systems. Among others to automotive glass processing companies in Hungary, the Czech Republic, China and the USA.
BBG
BBG GmbH & Co. KG, a manufacturer of moulds, machinery and plants, is a renowned specialist for the plastics-processing industry, focusing on polyurethane. BBG, the family-owned business, which is located in Mindelheim/ Allgäu and is run by Hans Brandner, the managing partner, supply their products to their customers all over the world, with the Asian market playing an important role in addition to the markets in Europe and North America. With a headcount of 150 worldwide, BBG generated sales to the tune of 23 million euros in 2015.
