Smart Molding International 1-2021

7 newsfeed www.smart-molding.com Arburg has been very active in the fight against coronavirus since the be - ginning of the pandemic. An outstanding example is the multifunctional face mask, which was devel - oped in collaboration with partners and made ready for series production in only 41 days. May saw the start of production of face masks made from LSR (liq - uid silicone rubber) and PP (polypropylene), initially as versions for everyday use. To protect both the wearer of the mask and those in the surrounding area from the virus, this was followed by the next step: the design and manufacture of a sup - plementary disposable filter that can be easily attached to the mask opening. "It was important to us not only to develop the mask as a product for ev - eryday use, but also to pri - oritise personal protection with the additional filter," says Gerhard Böhm, Arburg Managing Director Sales. He mentioned a high level of wearing comfort, sterilis - ability and multiple use in terms of sustainability and resource conservation as further requirements. Strong partners Dr Thomas Walther, Head of Application Technology at Arburg adds: "The mask project clearly shows how the time-to-market for new product ideas can be accel - erated in very special cases if all partners pool their ex - pertise, technologies and equipment." The compa - nies involved in the project were Sigma Engineering (LSR component and mould simulation), Polar-Form (LSR mould), Foboha and Wil - helm Weber (thermoplas - tic moulds), Ewikon (cold runner), Elmet (LSR dosing unit), Männer und Günter (hot runner technology), Barth Mechanik (gripper), Wacker und Borealis (ma - terial), Karl Küfner (filter design), Herrmann Ultra - schall (welding technology) and Packmat (packaging technology). Multifunctional mask The mask itself consists of a soft LSR component, which is put over the nose and mouth, and a firm PP holder with eyelets to at - tach the elastic bands. The LSR masks were injected on an electric Allrounder 570 A with a clamping force of 2,000 kN and a 4-cavity mould, and removed by a Multilift V robotic system. The associated PP holder was produced on an elec - tric Allrounder 520 E Gold - en Electric with a clamping force of 1,500 kN and a 2-cavity mould. The injec - tion moulded parts were removed here by a Multilift Select robotic system. To prevent infection in everyday life, the mask opening is closed with a cover so that the breathing air can escape downwards. A disposable filter can be placed on the opening to protect the wearer and also people in the surrounding area from coronavirus. Filter for more safety The filter was developed in collaboration with Karl Küfner – a company spe - cialising in the production of filters, which has been using Arburg machines in injection moulding produc - tion for decades. Project manager Manuel Frick, who as Arburg Sales Manager LSR designed the face mask, explains the pro - duction of the mask filter: "We used an Allrounder 470 H with a clamping force of 1,000 kN and a 4-cavity mould to produce the thin- walled filter housings made of PP. As this hybrid high- performance machine is designed for high-speed ap - plications, we can produce the parts in a cycle time of around 5.5 seconds." This makes it possible to very efficiently produce around 2,500 housings per hour, which are then ultrasoni - cally welded to a high-per - formance fleece to form the finished filter. ARBURG www.arburg.com Filter for Arburg mask rounds off coronavirus project The filter can be easily attached to the Arburg mask, which thus protects the wearer and those in the surrounding area from coronavirus infection The complete Arburg face mask consists of the LSR mask, the holder and the filter (from right to left)