KraussMaffei Group and Roctool SA have signed a global collaboration agreement strengthening the companies' cooperation on the worldwide marketing of France-based Roctool's HD Plastics — High Definition Plastics — inductive mold heating technology.
Under the new agreement, KraussMaffei will be able to supply this option on the full range of its injection molding machines, both directly or as part of KraussMaffei's dynamic mold heating (DMH) technology.
The HD Plastics/DMH system delivers benefits, says KraussMaffei, that outweigh the cost of the system. The one-shot process produces components with premium-quality surfaces with no need for further decoration or painting, rendering in-mold decoration steps such as preforming, punching and feeding redundant. The technology also eliminates weld lines, flow length extension, quick cycle time and temperature limitations, making it suitable for virtually any plastic material.
KraussMaffei and Roctool have cooperated intensively for the past three years, said Mathieu Boulanger, Roctool CEO.
“Now we want to expand our cooperation further and offer KraussMaffei customers added value with the additional option of Roctool's HD Plastics technology," he explained.
Both companies expect to open up new markets and applications as a result of the design options provided by this technology.
“We see great potential in the entertainment and communications industry, in the automotive industry, and in the sport and leisure sector," said Nadine Despineux, KraussMaffei's vice president of sales in the injection molding machinery segment.
The companies jointly presented the technology in May during Chinaplas. The next stop is Mexico. Live demonstrations will be given at the KraussMaffei Open House on July 6 in Querétaro. An all-electric PX 160-540 equipped with a Roctool 50 kilowatt generator will showcase the versatile design options of inductive mold heating, such as different color shading, holograms, gloss or matte effects. The project will use a box cover as an example.
