Samvardhana Motherson Peguform (SMP), a manufacturer of plastic parts for the automotive sector has placed a machinery and systems order with The Frimo Group worth over €10mil.
The installation will be used for back-injecting, laminating, punching and edgefolding natural fibre door panels. The agreement took place following a successful prototype phase with Frimo.
Substrate pressing is carried out using an ‘all-in-one system’ with tools for manufacturing door panels by back-injecting natural fibres, says Frimo. This allows the (previously individual) steps of hot pressing semi-finished sheets (e.g. natural fibre mats) and back-injecting to be combined into a single process.
The elements Frimo will install comprise a mat magazine, mat aligner, sizing press, mat transporter, forming press, forming tool, component remover, tool changer and a control system for the entire set-up.
The double design of the mat magazine allows materials to be changed without interruption. Material or job changes are possible without stopping the line. A flexible robot solution is used for mat alignment. Frimo says that the sizing press is designed to ensure that a precise sizing thickness is maintained across the entire product.
Adjustment to the tools, minimal waste and top speed tool changes were key factors in the forming press design, says the group. The system is centrally controlled, with the option of using a mobile unit.
The project also includes complete laminating, punching and edge-folding technology. Frimo sold the package on the basis of its ‘full flex’ laminating system concept, designed for fast tool changes. In addition, the recently developed ‘Frimo advanced cooling system’ (FACS) permits the film to be cooled more, but with no impact on time, which, Frimo says, allows a ‘superior initial adhesive bond’.
SMP opted for a combined edgefolding and punching concept which can also produce different component variants without tool changes. The inline system is also equipped with a ‘smart energy’ heating system.
SMP says that it expects the all-in-one substrate pressing, laminating, punching and edgefolding package to be of benefit in the design of standard tools and systems. This was an important aspect in commissioning the serial equipment. Frimo is responsible for coordinating the interfaces between the tooling and systems technology. In addition to this, the group will also carry out integration and project management for any additional scope included in the project by SMP, e.g. injection units including material supply and peripherals.
