Lightweight construction for e-mobility
At the K 2010, Dieffenbacher will be showing innovative developments for all aspects of pressing fiber-reinforced plastics.
From 27 October to 3 November 2010, Dieffenbacher will be taking part in the K, the international show for plastics and rubber in Düsseldorf, at which it will be showing its new direct D-SMC process for producing thermosetting structural and class A components in the automotive industry. As another new feature, Dieffenbacher will be presenting a complete system for the high-pressure resin transfer moulding process (HP-RTM) for manufacturing carbon-fiber composites.
Through these innovations, Dieffenbacher is intending to build further on its market leadership in the area of fiber-reinforced plastics with complete systems.
D-SMC: The first global direct process for SMC in operation
With this further development, Dieffenbacher is demonstrating that it plays a leading role in the field of composite materials. Dieffenbacher developed the new D-SMC process in a consortium together with DSM and the Fraunhofer ICT. The technology of direct compounding bypasses the highly costly steps of wrapping, storing and logistical handling of the SMC semifinished part which used to be required. As a result, impairments in quality are avoided. The precisely reproducible process and direct onward processing of the semifinished part guarantees stable production in the press plant. The D-SMC process does not just offer economic benefits, however. It also makes a significant contribution to technical improvements in class A quality components. The material composition can be adapted precisely and straightforwardly online to meet different requirements.
LFT-D: Mature direct process for manufacturing thermoplastic structural components
The direct process for LFT-D has proven itself in practice for more than ten years now. Here too, the process developed by Dieffenbacher mixes endlessly long glass fibers with a thermoplastic material, and the resulting compound with a fiber length of between 20 and 40 mm is fed into the press directly. The LFT-D process has increased significantly in importance due to the topic of lightweight construction. Structural components made from glass fiber-reinforced polymers are increasingly replacing metal components, and offer additional advantages in terms of integration. Recently, Dieffenbacher delivered a complete LFT-D line with a Compress 2100/1800 AS to China, therefore becoming the first company to establish ground-breaking LFT-D technology in that booming economic region. The customer, YDAM, is using this Dieffenbacher line to produce automotive components in the shortest cycle times, whilst still meeting the most exacting requirements.
High-pressure resin transfer moulding (HD-RTM)
In future, the high-pressure resin transfer moulding (HP-RTM) process will play a further key role in automotive production, where it will be used for manufacturing carbon fiber composite components. This trend is confirmed by current demand for body-in-white parts to be used in electric and hybrid vehicles. Dieffenbacher developed this ground-breaking process together with its Joint Venture partner, KraussMaffei. The carbon fiber mat is difficult to handle, and is placed in the bottom die of a vertical press. The subsequent process of filling with epoxy resins or polyurethane is performed using high-precision mixing heads in order to avoid degradation of the fabric. These mixing heads are directly flange-mounted on the mould. As a result, both companies are for the first time offering global turnkey solutions for high-pressure resin transfer moulding processes that are available from a single source.
Dieffenbacher is an internationally active group of companies that develops and manufactures press systems and complete production systems for the wood panel, automotive and components industries. As a system supplier, Dieffenbacher supplies forward-looking complete solutions for manufacturing the products the market needs, in an economical and environmentally aware manner.
Dieffenbacher GmbH will be exhibiting at the K 2010 in Hall 14, Stand A04.
Contact for further information:
Roger Kautz
Marketing and Communication
Tel. +49 7262 65-224
Fax +49 7262 65-420
roger.kautz(at)dieffenbacher.de
www.dieffenbacher.de