Brighton, Mich. — KraussMaffei Corp. highlighted its range of plastics processing technologies at a May 18 Tech Day event in Brighton.
This marked the first time that KM held a Tech Day in Brighton, which is the U.S. home to its reaction process tooling business. But the event also featured demonstrations of KM's injection molding, extrusion, polyurethane and automation equipment, and presentations about composites manufacturing, tooling, recycling, conformal cooling and specialized equipment for automotive interior manufacturing.
"We're always trying to educate how technology can help our customers be better at their business," President Paul Caprio said.
The event drew more than 100 guests, with a heavy emphasis on customers in the automotive market. Several presentations targeted that market's search for lightweight solutions to help plastics replace metal. They included high-pressure/thermoplastic resin transfer molding, carbon fiber manufacturing; and robotic foam parts de-flashing.
"Lightweighting is obviously a big one, from RPM [reaction process technology] side as well as the injection molding," Caprio said.
Other big-picture trends that processors ask about include ways to improve productivity, and the relatively new Industry 4.0 concept that connects technology from all aspects of manufacturing, he said.