WITTMANN BATTENFELD upgrades Airmould system for further resource saving

Airmould 4.0 is an internal gas pressure system which no longer requires a large control cabinet, thus saving customers valuable space on the production floor. The necessary pressure control modules have also been further downsized and thus become very compact. As a result, they can now be mounted and used flexibly on any injection molding machine.

For easier operation, Airmould 4.0 can be fully integrated in the Unilog B8 or B8X control system of WITTMANN BATTENFELD machines. For use on machines of other brands, user-friendly operation is also ensured via the WITTMANN Group’s standardized manual control terminal.

(The photo shows Airmould 4.0 pressure control modules, central unit and manual control terminal.)

In times when CO2 footprint and conservation of resources are buzzwords, the Airmould technology has become more significant for users. This process saves resources in more than one way.

Firstly, the use of this technology saves plastic material. Secondly, these material savings lead to a reduction in part weight, which is of great benefit especially for the automotive and mobility sectors by reducing, in turn, the required energy input. 

(The photo shows an automotive door handle produced with Airmould technology for weight reduction.)

Since nitrogen gas is injected exclusively into the interior of the cavity in internal gas pressure injection molding, there are no limitations whatsoever to the quality of the parts’ surface finish compared to compact injection molding.

On the contrary: with Airmould, the gas assumes the function of the holding pressure and counteracts component shrinkage from the inside. As a result, it reduces the formation of sink marks and warpage. This aspect is of major significance primarily for thick-walled parts.

(The photo shows Airmould channel inside door handle.)

Typical applications for Airmould technology are bar-shaped parts. These include all kinds of handles, levers, brackets and hangers for weight reduction, such as door handles for the automotive sector.

Additional examples are components for white goods or home and garden tools, where material savings have a substantial effect on costs. Some further common applications are media lines and tubes for the automotive sector and parts for the furniture industry, such as components for tables and chairs.

(The photo shows Airmould channel on gas pedal.)

Apart from bar-shaped geometries, Airmould can also be used for flat parts with ribs, such as panels and covers, or beverage crates and tabletops. Here, the nitrogen is injected precisely into the rib structures, in order to prevent sink marks on the surface of the opposite side.

Moreover, this process is also suitable for flat parts with local bulges. Typical examples here are car outside mirrors, housings or reusable boxes.

(The photo shows some clothes pegs made using Airmould for material savings.)