Priamus System Technologies AG's U.S. headquarters and training facility has classroom space and a laboratory housing a 110-ton Arburg injection press that allow Priamus to demonstrate its in-mold process monitoring and control technology for injection molding.
Founded in Shaffhausen, Switzerland, in 2001, Priamus is still a young company. But its reputation is growing, head of applications technology David Dreher said at an open house in Brunswick.
``We are the leader in in-mold control systems,'' Dreher said.
In 2002, the company started up its U.S. operation, Priamus System Technologies LLC. In 2005, the new Brunswick facility opened its doors. President Susan Montgomery said the new headquarters ``is almost like a dream. In fact, you have to pinch me because I almost can't believe it.''
Dreher said Priamus has some big customers, including Delphi Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co., plus major medical molders, and deals with a number of injection press manufacturers.
Priamus equipment monitors mold-cavity pressure, volume and temperature. The company's products include the Priamus Fill system for balancing and automatic control of hot-runner molds and the Priamus eDAQ, a real-time, Ethernet-based process-monitoring system that controls things like injection valves and sequential valve gates.
One feature of eDAQ is automatic switchover to holding pressure, Dreher said.
Other products include Priamus Cool, a closed-loop mold temperature controller for multi-cavity molds, and Priamus Heat, which does the same thing for thermosets and rubber.
Medical device manufacturer Lacey Manufacturing Co. Inc., installed Priamus Fill on a 250-ton Demag press two years ago, said Ronald Heusser, injection molding manager for the Bridgeport, Conn., company.
``It's a very simple system to use,'' Heusser told open house attendees. ``Within 10-15 shots, it balances the system. Every day. Every shot.'' Priamus Fill also helps make material changes faster, he said.
Heusser said Lacey has saved time and hassles spent when technicians used to have to tweak each mold.
``Prior to that system, every time you had a lot-change, you had to have a tech there for an hour, an hour and a half. And, of course, you have to throw all those parts away,'' he said.
Another speaker, David Kazmer, professor at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, said very few molders understand the basics of where sensors should be placed in the mold cavity. Kazmer predicted that, within the next five years, the plastics industry will have a single tool that automatically controls mold pressure and temperature.
The university runs a test-site to research the issue.
Montgomery said the Priamus lab and classroom space will allow the firm to train people in how pressure and temperature impact the flow of plastic into a mold.