The finishing of plastic surfaces through polyurethane (PUR) flooding is gaining rapid momentum in the plastics industry, especially in the automotive sector. To provide its customers with optimal support in implementing complex PUR projects, ENGEL has established its new clearmelt-Competence-Center. By combining over 20 years of in-house PUR expertise with the know-how of strong system partners, ENGEL offers global customers comprehensive project support – from the initial idea to full-scale series production.
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The ENGEL clearmelt-Competence-Center demonstrates how customers can efficiently achieve high-quality, scratch-resistant surfaces through a fully integrated PUR solution and centralised project management. Shown here: a test setup with a duo 1800 two-platen injection moulding machine and PUR dosing system. |
The ENGEL clearmelt process – polyurethane flooding directly inside the injection mould – is increasingly establishing itself as an alternative to costly downstream coating of thermoplastic components. The reasons are clear: clearmelt delivers excellent surface quality with high scratch resistance and visual depth that cannot be achieved with pure thermoplastics. It also significantly shortens the process chain, increasing efficiency, simplifying part logistics and reducing costs. To help customers fully leverage this potential, ENGEL has launched the new clearmelt-Competence-Center.
One single point of contact for the entire project
At the clearmelt-Competence-Center, customers receive a fully integrated, perfectly coordinated solution from a single source. ENGEL not only handles the specification of the injection moulding machine and matching peripherals but also takes care of all communication and coordination with system partners. This gives customers a major advantage: they work with a dedicated PUR expert as their single point of contact, who oversees the entire project – from initial concept to series production. The result is reduced complexity, faster coordination and maximum efficiency.
Comprehensive, global support from a customer-focused expert team
An interdisciplinary team of experts in development, application engineering and sales provides end-to-end support to customers at the clearmelt-Competence-Center. Based on the customer’s 3D part data, the team carries out a detailed analysis to define the optimal overall process layout. They evaluate the ideal configuration for trials and the future production cell. Practical trials are then conducted at the Competence Center, culminating in the final sampling of the series part. This seamless support ensures that new applications can be transferred to production quickly, efficiently and at the highest quality level. The CCC includes not only the technology centres in Schwertberg and St. Valentin, Austria, but also ENGEL’s global technology hubs in Asia and North America.
Seamless integration for maximum process stability
ENGEL fully integrates polyurethane technology into its machine portfolio and embeds it in the CC300 control system, ensuring high process stability, intuitive operation and maximum automation. Customers benefit from a shorter process chain and improved final product quality.
To support a wide range of customer applications, the clearmelt-Competence-Center in St. Valentin provides duo two-platen injection moulding machines with clamping forces ranging from 7,000 to 55,000 kN for trials and sampling. In addition, further testing opportunities are available through cooperation partners such as toolmakers and raw material suppliers.
With the new clearmelt-Competence-Center, ENGEL clearly demonstrates its system expertise and creates real added value for its customers: the assurance of having a reliable and capable partner at their side – even for demanding PUR projects – who provides a fully integrated solution from a single source.
