Infrared heat and UV technology for decorative plastic parts

Production in the IMD process benefits from special emitters from Heraeus Noblelight

Decorative moldings in cars, switches with a metal look or high-gloss fittings are made from injection molded plastic and coated on the outside. This is often done using the IMD process, the so-called in-mold decoration or also film back injection.
Heraeus Noblelight cooperates in the IMD technique with the specialist for thin-film technology LEONHARD KURZ and presents IR and UV technology for the optimization of IMD decoration and other intelligent manufacturing processes at the Fakuma trade fair.

In the IMD process, a carrier product with decorative lacquer is placed inside the injection mold. As the mold is filled with plastic, lacquer or paint adheres to the surface of the plastic castings. When the mold is opened, the lacquer then detaches from the carrier and remains on the plastic part. The coated part can now be removed.
The entire process benefits from IR and UV technology. The coated transfer product can be processed much better if it is preheated by infrared radiation and thus becomes moldable. After injection molding, the coating is cured by UV radiation and thus becomes particularly scratch resistant.

UV and IR in use at the KURZ Group’s IMD facility
The LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG develops and produces fascinating solutions for surface finishing and functional coatings, which are applied to substrates and used for a variety of products, in vehicles as well as in electronic products, household items or furniture. IMD technology, which combines injection molding and plastic decoration in a single work step, is also used here. Among other things, infrared technology is used here. BAIER a KURZ Company is an expert and leading manufacturer of high-quality plastic decoration machines. The IMD components are cleaned of residues with CO2 in a BAIER system and then cured with UV radiation.

Heraeus, the technology group headquartered in Hanau, Germany, is a leading international family-owned portfolio company. The company“s roots go back to a family pharmacy started in 1660. Today, the Heraeus group includes businesses in the environmental, electronics, health and industrial applications sectors. Customers benefit from innovative technologies and solutions based on broad materials expertise and technological leadership.
In the 2020 financial year, the FORTUNE Global 500 listed group generated revenues of
EUR31.5 billion with approximately 14,800 employees in 40 countries. Heraeus is one of the top 10 family-owned companies in Germany and holds a leading position in its global markets.

Heraeus Noblelight with its headquarters in Hanau and with subsidiaries in the USA, Great Britain, France and China is one of the technology- and market-leaders in the production of specialty light sources and systems. The organization develops, manufactures and markets infrared and ultraviolet emitters, systems and solutions for applications in industrial manufacture, environmental protection, medicine and cosmetics, research, development and analytical measurement techniques.
The Heraeus logo, Heraeus, and Noblelight are trademarks or registered trademarks of Heraeus Holding GmbH or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Contact
Heraeus Noblelight GmbH
Marie-Luise Bopp
Reinhard-Heraeus-Ring 7
63801 Kleinostheim
Phone: +49 6181/35-8547
Fax: +49 6181/35-16 8547
E-Mail: marie-luise.bopp@heraeus.com
Url: https://www.heraeus.com/en/hng/press/press_overview_hng.aspx

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