Trexel and Engel Canada Sign Agreement to Supply Injection Molding Equipment Capable of Processing Microcellular Foam.WOBURN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 17, 1998--Trexel, Inc., and Engel Canada, Inc., have entered into a commercial license agreement to supply injection molding injection molding n. A manufacturing process for forming objects, as of plastic or metal, by heating the molding material to a fluid state and injecting it into a mold. equipment capable of utilizing Trexel's proprietary MuCell(R) microcellular foam process. Under this agreement, Trexel, the worldwide leader in the development and commercialization of microcellular foam processing technologies for thermoplastic A polymer material that turns to liquid when heated and becomes solid when cooled. There are more than 40 types of thermoplastics, including acrylic, polypropylene, polycarbonate and polyethylene. polymers, licenses Engel Canada to make injection molding equipment utilizing the MuCell technology worldwide. The agreement with Engel Canada, a leading North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. supplier of injection molding equipment, is Trexel's first commercial licensing agreement for the MuCell process with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and ). "Engel Canada has been quick to recognize the significant advantages of this new technology," commented David Bernstein, Trexel President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "Engel Canada's commitment to innovation will accelerate the use of the MuCell process by a wide range of end users." Until recently, the MuCell microcellular foam process was only commercially available for extrusion. Trexel's successful adaptation of the MuCell process for injection molding (including structural foam applications) now makes this promising technology available for molders. Applied to injection molding (parts as thin as 0.020 in/0.5 mm), the MuCell process offers controlled product weight reduction of up to 60% and significant processing advantages, including lower injection pressure, lower clamp tonnage, and a reduction of cycle time. Importantly, injection molded products produced with the MuCell process exhibit significant retention of desired mechanical properties--such as high tensile strength tensile strength Ratio of the maximum load a material can support without fracture when being stretched to the original area of a cross section of the material. When stresses less than the tensile strength are removed, a material completely or partially returns to its , low permanent set, and impact strength--despite a sizable reduction in material content. Engel North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. President Karl Pieper pointed out the advantages of this agreement to his company. "Offering the MuCell capability as an option allows us to give our customers new opportunities in injection molding. MuCell-capable equipment can help molders produce new and innovative products, while improving their production efficiency." Engel Canada will use Trexel technology, engineering support, and designs to build a series of commercial-scale, MuCell-capable injection molding machines Injection molding machine (also known as injection press) - a machine for making plastic parts. Manufacturing products by injection molding process. Consist of two main parts, an injection unit and a clamping unit. , in addition to a MuCell-process retrofit kit for installed equipment. (All machines--new and retrofitted--will also be capable of conventional, non-foaming processing.) Trexel will provide a standard end-user license for all companies that purchase new equipment or retrofit packages. Breakthrough Technology The MuCell(R) technology--which is suitable for a wide range of injection molded products-- provides molders with unique opportunities to reduce product costs while enhancing product design and processing. Using inexpensive, environmentally friendly Environmentally friendly, also referred to as nature friendly, is a term used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment.[1] supercritical fluids (SCFs) of atmospheric gases (CO2 and N2) as blowing agents, the MuCell microcellular foam process produces evenly distributed and uniformly sized microscopic cells (generally 5-50 microns in diameter). In addition to retaining desired mechanical properties, the MuCell process can eliminate sink marks while either reducing or eliminating hold time because of the uniform and controlled internal gas pressure inherent in this technology. "The MuCell molding technology gives the molder new opportunities and capabilities like never before seen," said Franz Strohmaier, Engel Canada Vice President of Engineering. Parts molded with the MuCell microcellular foam process can be molded with skin-core cross sections. In addition, the MuCell process is suitable for thin-walling. The features of this breakthrough technology permit product designers to specify lightweight, polymer-saving foam materials for products in which conventionally foamed materials would be unacceptable. "We expect the MuCell microcellular foam process to be used for a broad range of injection molded products," stated David Pierick, Trexel Injection Molding Programs Manager. "Already we have demonstrated applications with nylons, polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene butadiene (by  t'ədī`ēn), colorless, gaseous hydrocarbon. There are two structural isomers of butadiene; they differ in the location of the two carbon-carbon double bonds in the styrene sty·renen. A colorless oily liquid from which polystyrenes, plastics, and synthetic rubber are produced. Also called vinylbenzene. (PC/ABS PC/ABS Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene ), and high-temperature engineering resins (polyarylsulfones), as well as polypropylene (PP) and thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs)." The MuCell microcellular foam process offers many attractive processing improvements, including potentially sizable cost savings. The use of SCFs as blowing agents lowers the viscosity of the melt, which results in a substantial decrease in processing temperatures (as much as 78o on the centigrade centigrade /cen·ti·grade/ (sen´ti-grad) having 100 gradations (steps or degrees); see under scale. cen·ti·grade adj. Celsius. scale, 140o on the Fahrenheit scale Fahrenheit scale a temperature scale with the ice point at 32 degrees (32°F) and the normal boiling point of water at 212 degrees (212°F). For equivalents of Fahrenheit and Celsius temperatures, see Table 5. ). In turn, because of the low melt viscosity, the fill pressure can be reduced up to 50% and the clamp tonnage can be reduced up to 40%. Pierick adds, "The low pressures associated with the MuCell process permit molders to increase the number of cavities without increasing clamp tonnage, which can significantly improve production efficiency." The MuCell process can result in faster cycle time due to the reduction of melt temperature, improved mold filling, and the reduction in or elimination of hold time. Equipment Availability According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the commercial licensing agreement, Engel Canada will complete designs for a range of medium-sized machines (either tiebar or tiebarless), plus a MuCell(R) process retrofit package for equipment in the field. Trexel, which currently operates commercial-scale equipment in its extensive development laboratory, will offer engineering support, training, and other services to end users. Trexel's MuCell microcellular foam process is covered by patents and patents pending in Asia, Europe, and North America. For further information, contact Dan Szczurko, Trexel Vice President of Business Development (781-932-0202 or dan@trexel.com), or Dave Pierick, Trexel Injection Molding Programs Manager (781-932-0202 or pierick@trexel.com), or visit www.trexel.com. CONTACT: Trexel, Inc. HighGround, Inc. Dan Szczurko Jane Teague 781-932-0202 781-246-5522 dan@trexel.com jteague@highgroundinc.com |
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