Maxijet Inc., which molds lower-water-volume irrigation products, turned to the MeltFlipper melt rotation process from Beaumont Technologies Inc. to help solve molding problems.
Maxijet spray nozzles are used by citrus growers and retailers like Lowes, Ace Hardware and True Value.
Product and color variations are a challenge — the Maxijet products come in eight different part styles, each with eight different nozzle configurations, and is molded in eight colors. In the past, Maxijet had to perform a unique process setup for each configuration, to avoid problems such as flash, sink marks and short shots.
The company was forced to block certain mold cavities and this added up to constant adjustments and tweaking, according to a news release from Beaumont Technologies. After installing the MeltFlipper, the molder has cut scrap by as much as 33 percent, and reduced maintenance and downtime, the release said.
Dundee, Fla.-based Maxijet is owned by the Thayer family, a fifth generation of Florida citrus growers.
Beaumont is in Erie, Pa.
Tel. 814-899-6390, fax 814-899-7117, e-mail [email protected]