PE rubber jointing system works in 30s

A new method of joining EPDM rubber extrusion joins two sections of rubber by placing a thin film of hot melt PE tape between the two ends and heating all three to around 130 deg C.

A new method of joining EPDM rubber extrusion is now available from systems integrators Industrial Automation (IAL).

It offers significant advantages over existing 'butt jointing' systems, which typically involve a vulcanisation process.

Whereas the polyethylene (PE) jointing process takes just 30 seconds to form a bond between two sections of extrusion and achieves 95% strength within five seconds, the traditional vulcanisation method often takes 2.5 minutes to bond and several minutes more to cool and cure; during this time, the joint must be handled very carefully.

This application is used extensively by the automotive industry but also has possibilities for other industry sectors.

The 'PEJ1' from IAL joins two sections of rubber by placing a thin film of hot melt PE tape between the two ends and heating all three to around 130 deg C.

Unlike traditional vulcanising equipment, it can also join taped or flocked extrusion, as the jaws holding the extrusion are not heated.

It can cope with 100% EPDM as well as solid extrusion with metal carrier.

The 'PEJ1' offers a very compact footprint and automatic tape application as standard, whereas not all butt jointing systems can offer this.

Commenting on the new machine, Greg Smith, Business Development Manager of IAL said, "We have had a great deal of interest from the automotive sector about this new technology.

It offers significant production benefits as well as huge savings in operator time and a superior end product.

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