nir-vana innovation network

A German SME active in the development and production of prototypes as well as the production of small series (1 to 10,000 pieces) of mainly plastic products for applications as in the automotive industry as well as various other branches is looking for manufacturing agreements. The company is active for over 23 years and has developed and adapted several production technologies for the hybrid manufacturing of small series. As hybrid manufacturers, the company moves in-house between conventional moulding and additive manufacturing including offering design for additive (DfAM) services. The SME is also the creator and patent holder of a specialised production process which makes use of silicone moulds. The series also uses simple aluminium tools. Fast and cost-optimized, this makes moulds available, in which the casting of polyamide is possible. This allows the production of small prototype series and small series in manual and semi-automated individual production. The decisive advantages are cost savings of up to 40 % compared to injection or blow moulding tools, time savings of up to 50 % compared to conventional tool making, the use of the series material PA6 (Nylon 6 or polycaprolactam)(also glass-filled), the early identification of constructive component optimization potentials and immediate implementation in the following casting tools. Due to the flexibility in combining silicone moulds with lost core inserts, almost all complex internal geometries can be realized with this process. The lost core technology uses a lost core made of a special material, which is removed from the cast component after the casting process. All parts can be finished according to the customer's wishes; for this purpose, painting and lamination techniques are available. Hereby the unique, fast and cost-optimized production for PA6 parts is enabled. Over the past several years the SME has focused on widening their portfolio to 11 in-house technologies including injection moulding.