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Tag Archives: rubber molding industry

Automatic stripping of core-molded EPDM pipe seals

Automatic stripping of core-molded EPDM pipe seals

REP offers a simple and economical solution to a problem that is familiar to manufacturers of pipe seals.

The stripping process…often the stumbling block of the moulding process
When performed manually, the stripping process is often very difficult and productivity is considerably impacted; when being performed automatically, the challenge is to do it quickly without any heat loss and without production stoppages, due to overlapping seals. The solutions generally implemented in the industry today, such as molding with two sets of rotating core bars, require a very large press opening stroke to perform the core bar rotation outside the press and/or front and rear stripping units that lead to considerable space requirements and very high capital costs.

A simple and efficient solution
REP has recently worked on several projects and today offers its customers a competitive and profitable turnkey solution for reduced size on the automatic stripping of EPDM pipe seals of any size. You can watch the stripping process on http://www.youtube.com/REPinternational.

The solution can be matched to any seal size.   It is based on conveyor belts equipped with rotating belts, allowing for the individual stripping of the seals. The spacing between the bottom and top belts can be easily adjusted, thanks to a mechanical stopper system, thus making it possible to switch over from one seal type to another. The rotation speeds of the top and bottom belts can also be adjusted independently.

The belts are designed in compliance with a multi-layer technology, in order to ensure the reliability of the stripping process and the speed, while observing the quality of the stripped parts. In addition, the core bar in/out speeds on the kit (low/high speed, depending on the stroke limit) can be controlled. The kit is fully retractable for easy access to the cores on the rear side of the machine, allowing maintenance operations or more rapid production changes.

Project example for a pipe seal of a nominal diameter of 50 and 100mm

The equipment
The machine proposed is an injection molding machine REP V69Y50 with a clamping force of 400 tons, including a kit specially designed for automatic stripping, a vacuum system, hydraulic top and bottom ejectors and ancillary heating comprising heating elements inside the cores to hold the core temperature during the stripping process.

The tooling consists of a 112-cavity mould (2 cores) and a 2-nozzle cold runner block for the part of a nominal diameter of 110mm. For the part of a nominal diameter of 50mm, we use a 208-cavity mould (4 cores) and a 4-nozzle cold runner block.

The cycle
After the mould opens, the ejectors move out to lift the frame-supported cores. The cores move to the rear of the press (electrical movement) and simultaneously the rotation of the two belts allows for sequential stripping of the pipe seals.

The runners are automatically stripped and separated from the parts during the core bar translation. Metal guides are used to separate the runners as the core bars index on the kit.

The runners are recovered in a receptacle inside the cage, whereas the parts are recovered at the discharge end of the cage extension in a receptacle or using an automatic conveyor.

When the cores move inside press, a laser detection unit is activated to guarantee no seal adheres to the cores. If this is the case, an alarm signals for operator action at the end of the in-stroke of the cores.

The result
On this project, the customer’s profitability requirements have been met. The stripping time reached for both types of seals was approximately 40 seconds.

The entire system is competitively priced, with an excellent investment/payback ratio. This is a simple, rugged solution that is both reliable and easy to control during production.

For more information, please contact…

 

REP CORPORATION
8N470 Tameling Court
Bartlett, IL 60103
Phone: 847-697-7210
www.repinjection.com
Tim Graham, President
tgraham@repcorp.com

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Jeff Tanner Named Midwest Sales Director For REP

Jeff Tanner

Jeff Tanner, Midwest Sales Director, REP Corporation

Bartlett, IL (Chicago) – Effective immediately, Jeff Tanner has been appointed the new Midwest Sales Director for REP Corporation, the world leader in rubber and TPE injection molding presses. This announcement was made by Tim Graham, President of REP Corporation, at the company’s headquarters in Bartlett, IL, near Chicago.

Tanner comes to REP with 29 years of experience in the rubber industry, having previously worked at a major OEM supplier to the automotive NVH sector. He has a thorough technical background in rubber injection molding, tooling and adhesion processes, as well as new product development.

Jeff will be based in Cadillac, Michigan and cover the Midwest region for REP. He can be reached at 847-514-8160 or jtanner@repcorp.com.

His interest includes fishing, hunting and camping.

REP is the largest builder of rubber and TPE injection presses in the world, with global affiliates and multi-national manufacturing locations.

For more information, please contact:

Tim Graham, President
REP Corporation
8N470 Tameling Court
Bartlett, IL 60103
Phone:  847-697-7210
Web:  www.repinjection.com

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Rep Names Jim Wirtz New Service Manager

jpwiirt

Jim Wirtz Service Manager

Bartlett, IL (Chicago) – REP Corporation, longtime leader in injection and other molding presses for rubber and TPE, announces the appointment of Jim Wirtz as Service Manager for the company, effective immediately.   The announcement was made at company headquarters by REP Corporation President Tim Graham.

Wirtz brings nearly a lifetime of experience in the rubber molding industry to REP, as his family owns and operates Wirtz Manufacturing, likewise a longtime leader in injection molding, based in Michigan, where Jim learned the business from all aspects of mold design and contract production.  When the family business redirected itself into battery manufacturing in the mid-1990’s, Jim’s passion for the rubber molding industry continued, as he helped design and construct various manufacturing facilities across the United States, in the rubber industry.    “My entire working life has been centered around the rubber injection and extrusion business.  It is an honor to be part of REP Corporation and the REP International global network, staying in the industry where my grandfather, father and I have all spent our careers.  It’s where I belong,” Jim notes.

Jim will be responsible for the service department and field technician network of REP, a leading supplier of injection, compression, transfer molding, plus tiremaking and devulcanization machinery.

For more information, please contact:
REP CORPORATION
8N750 Tameling Court
Bartlett, IL 60104
Phone:  847-697-7210
Web:  www.repinjection.com
Attention:  Tim Graham, President

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