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Product category: Manufacturing industry news
News Release from: GTMA
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 24 June 2004

Injection moulding throughput times to
be cut 35%

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A three-year, EUR 4.5 million project aims to slash throughput times in injection moulding by 35%, through the development of tool manufacture that will incorporate conformal cooling.

The UK's GTMA has won the opportunity to participate in another international R and D project, this time funded as part of the EC's Collective Research activities The three-year project, with a budget of EUR 4.5 million, aims to slash throughput times in injection moulding by 35%, through the development of a new methodology for tool manufacture that will incorporate conformal cooling

The project which has been named "Hipermoulding" (High Performance Injection Moulds and Moulding Processes aims to allow better thermal control of moulds and hence shorter cycle times and better part quality and so give European toolmakers a competitive edge over far eastern imports, helping to protect future business.

The project will rely upon input from member companies to provide the end-user perspective in terms of both system requirements and end-use applications.

11 GTMA members are participating in the project and will therefore have the chance to influence the direction of the research and gain early access to the results.

European industrial associations from the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal and Poland, in association with well respected national research organisations, including project co-ordinator, TNO in Holland, and PERA from the UK, are participating in the research.

The project aims to assist injection moulders and their mould makers to reduce throughput times by more than 35% through improved mould design and manufacturing part cost reduction of at least 20% is also anticipated.

The proposed conformal cooling configurations and advanced thermal management in so called High Performance Moulds cannot be designed, manufactured and used in the traditional/conventional way.

The project therefore aims to address, mould design, mould manufacture and the injection moulding process.

Information on the results and progress of the project will be disseminated in the UK through the GTMA.

GTMA members on the steering group include Delcam UK and Mold Systems, while SME members include: R and S Enginering, Amtek Precision, Moldtechnik, Thomas Keating, Moorland Toolmaking, Investment Tooling, Petford Tools, Mtool and PP Injection Moulds.

Collective Research is a programme sponsored by the European Union where RTD performers undertake scientific and technological research activities on behalf of Industrial Associations and their member companies.

This is to assist these companies improve their competitiveness, with funding for appropriate R and D projects.

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