Customized plant engineering for the best fiber composite materials in the world
PGTEX relies on a combined production line for wet shot and HP RTM applications
Trade fairs for fiber composite materials play a central role in the Hennecke event calendar. This year's JEC trade fair in Paris, which is considered the leading trade fair in this application area, was more than satisfactory for Hennecke GmbH. The focus of the trade fair presence was on product innovations around the topic of wet compression molding, another innovative method for the production of fiber-reinforced structural components. Among other things, the composite specialists were able to present a new wide slot dispenser for the wet shot process, which has been optimized in terms of serviceability and offers impressive new technical features. Hennecke was particularly delighted with the successful transaction for a combined wet shot and HP RTM application plant secured with the Chinese composite enthusiasts from PGTEX.
PGTEX set itself the goal of developing the best fiber composite materials in the world in order to be able to offer tailored composite solutions. Here the investment in the company's first multifunctional production plant for HP RTM and wet shot applications fits into the picture perfectly. For this reason, Hennecke is particularly proud that PGTEX has selected a German machine and plant manufacturer from Sankt Augustin. The plant will be used at the PGTEX site near Shanghai and will start production next year in conjunction with a 3600 ton Schuler press. PGTEX has far-reaching plans in the field of electromobility. For example, the Changzhou-based company was commissioned to develop and mass-produce a CFRP / GRP hybrid body for a Chinese electric car. Here PGTEX can draw on extensive competences in the production process. The Chinese high-tech company has been involved in the production of fiberglass fibers and related fabrics for many years.
PGTEX is supplied with the latest plant and process technology by Hennecke. The heart of the production plant is the STREAMLINE high-pressure metering machine, which Hennecke has successfully delivered and commissioned more than fifty times worldwide. The modern metering system is equipped with a hydraulic multi-point. This allows the connection of two mixheads within the system network. The first mixhead is used as HP RTM mixhead and is fixed to a mould inside the press to inject the reactive raw material directly into the closed mould, thus enabling infiltration into the fibre fabric. The second mixhead is equipped with the previously mentioned wide slot dispenser and is controlled by a robot, which in turn allows automated resin application on a fiber fabric outside the press. As is typical for Hennecke, the output system is designed to be particularly easy to maintain. For example, the user is assisted by an automatic raw material discharge process if the nozzle is blocked by reacted raw material within the nozzle body.
Due to the design with two mixheads, the customer can switch between both technologies in a short changeover time and produce different fiber composite components on one plant. While the HP RTM process is primarily used for the fabrication of complex 3D parts, the wet shot process is preferred for the efficient production of large-scale and less complex fiber composite components.
This ensures maximum flexibility within the production of PGTEX. With the successful deal at the JEC, PGTEX and Hennecke have laid the foundation for a long-term partnership.
The new STREAMLINE MK2
Equipped as standard with expertise from the world market leader:
With the new "MK2" generation, Hennecke is further developing the efficient STREAMLINE high-pressure metering machines using the experience of dozens of production systems and preliminary product developments.
Building on the sale of over 70 STREAMLINE machines in the first generation, developers, manufacturers and raw material suppliers have been able to develop, in many ways crucially, a variety of processes in the manufacture of fiber-reinforced structural components and in efficient surface finishing using polyurethane and polyurea coating, leading to diverse serial applications. The STREAMLINE has become the industrial standard across the world for HP-RTM applications.
The process expertise and wide-ranging experience now form the basis of the machine design for the STREAMLINE MK2 – a new generation of machine which has been developed in line with current market demands. The MK2 provides Hennecke customers with a highly developed product, precisely adapted to the process availability of serial applications in HP-RTM, CLEARIM and clearmelt® processes. The second STREAMLINE generation offers further impressive benefits. Production flexibility increases considerably thanks to the ultra-space-saving layout of the machine on a frame which is mobile and can also be lifted by crane. The plant automation is also particularly flexible: The STREAMLINE MK2 is equipped with a wireless operator panel, which enables on the spot operation of all process parameters independent of location. The efficient heating configuration is also impressive in terms of innovative detailed solutions: the heating and metering cabins are joined together using quick-locking mechanisms which allow for easy dismantling at any time.
Delivery of the new STREAMLINE MK2 will begin in January 2019. In connection with the product launch of the STREAMLINE MK2, Hennecke is following a great tradition in which machines are brought onto the market by industry partners before the official sales start. Are you interested? Then please contact one of our experts for more information. We look forward to hearing from you, because one thing is certain: feedback from manufacturers is the most valuable way of continuously improving our products.
