Infrared Heating improves Quality

If burrs on cast plastic components cannot be completely eliminated, they must at least be simply removed using a repeatable process. Heraeus Noblelight, a company within the Heraeus worldwide precious metals- and technology organisation, offers infrared emitters which can be matched to component contours. The emitters transfer heat in a contact-free manner and melt the burrs away without causing any damage to the component itself. As a result production reject rates are significantly reduced.
Plastic handles, housing parts, covers, suction hoses and lids are conventionally produced by injection moulding or by pressing. It is not always possible to prevent the creation of sharp-edged burrs, especially at the tool splitting surfaces. The removal of these burrs before further processing is an important requirement, especially with components of complex geometry. Infrared radiation heats the surfaces of plastic components in a contact-free manner and in a matter of seconds, so that the burrs are simply melted away.
Moreover, quartz glass infrared emitters can be shaped to follow the contour of the edges or burrs and consequently exactly melt away only the burr without damaging the actual work piece. As a result, the technology is far superior to many conventional methods, as manual deburring, using special knives or by the application of gas flames, does not produce consistent results and is time-intensive.
Infrared modules are compact, can be easily integrated in production lines and can be retro-fitted. Consequently, infrared heating allows in-line deburring and plastic components can be passed to the next processing stage immediately.
Infrared emitters are matched exactly to the production process. They can heat large surfaces just as easily as thin edges. Flexible designs allow their use with the most geometrically complex work pieces and, as infrared emitters can be switched on and off in a matter of seconds, they save on both energy and operating costs. Deburring, welding or riveting of plastic components takes place especially efficiently within a few seconds because the heat is applied exactly where it should be. Infrared emitters offer the advantage of being able to apply focused heat: heat exactly where it is required and for only as long as it is required. Consequently, energy is used efficiently, time is saved and, in the final analysis, production costs are reduced.
Heraeus Noblelight offers the complete range of infrared heating, from near infrared NIR to medium wave Carbon technology. The company can carry out trials with clients' own materials and can provide advice on the selection of the optimum emitter to suit particular processes.

Heraeus Noblelight GmbH, with its headquarters in Hanau and with subsidiaries in the USA, Great Britain and China, is one of the technology- and market-leaders in the production of specialist light sources. In 2005, Heraeus Noblelight had an annual turnover of 79 Million € and employed 644 people worldwide. The organisation develops, manufactures and markets infrared and ultraviolet emitters for applications in industrial manufacture, environmental protection, medicine and cosmetics, research, development and analytical laboratories.

The precious metal and technology organisation Heraeus, is a market- and technology-leader, worldwide, in the fields of precious metals, dental materials, sensors, quartz glass and specialist light sources. With a turnover of over 9 milliard € and with more than 10,600 employees worldwide in more than 100 companies, Heraus has been acknowledged worldwide for more than 150 years as a precious metals and materials specialist.
The high innovation and development potential in the organisation is promoted and encouraged intensively and in a targeted fashion. Heraeus is consolidating its leading position in various industrial sectors by customer-focused product development and considered and targeted acquisitions.

Heraeus Noblelight GmbH
Reinhard-Heraeus-Ring 7
D-63801 Kleinostheim
Germany

Press Contact:
Dr. Marie-Luise Bopp
phone 0049 6181 35-8547
marie-luise.bopp@heraeus.com

This release was published on openPR.