Datwyler further supports global customers by transferring advanced O-Ring technology

Schattdorf, Switzerland, November 30, 2022 - Datwyler is further strengthening its global capabilities in the development and production of O-rings by transferring its state-of-the-art cold runner injection molding technology to Asia and North America. The demand for O-rings is increasing with the development of new mobility solutions. Application areas of particular interest include hydrogen storage systems in fuel cells, battery thermal management systems and motor control systems, as well as sealing solutions for components such as battery covers and inverter modules.

In the manufacturing process of O-rings, product surface treatment, cleanliness during production, product temperature resistance, and tolerance to various media and environments are all technical difficulties. Transferring technology to the factories in Ningguo, China and Silao, Mexico will further enhance the supply chain security of Datwyler's global customers, provide localized services to global customers, and reduce logistics and related carbon emissions.

Figure 1: Technology transfer of next generation injection molding technology

“After the pandemic, as our customers are working to secure their supply chains, there is an urgent need for localized production of O-rings,” said Richard Katona, Key Account Manager at Datwyler. “By deploying this technology and production capacity in our Asian and North American plants, we can achieve complementary effects among our global plants, thereby ensuring a consistent and continuous supply of O-rings around the world. In addition, due to the long-standing contradiction of skilled labor shortages, the new O-ring production technology uses highly automated equipment to effectively avoid this problem, thereby achieving efficient and low-waste product production.”

During the injection molding process, a certain number of mold cavities need to be filled; and the number of mold cavities can be expanded by expanding the mold, which can increase the number of parts molded each time and production efficiency. Cold runner technology further improves the efficiency of injection molding by controlling the temperature of the rubber compound and keeping it at a low viscosity, making it easier for the equipment to accurately produce parts. Cold runner technology is an evolution of the traditional injection molding process and a highly automated alternative to the traditional compression molding process (which uses preform material to fill the mold cavity, but requires a lot of manual work).

In the cold runner, the rubber can be injected into different areas of the mold instead of just the center area," Richard Katona continued. "Different injection points mean greater precision and better control over the product, which will also reduce material waste during the production process. In addition, because we can design and manufacture the molds and runners involved in injection molding in-house, we only need to make a few minor modifications to the mold to meet the special product tolerance requirements proposed by our customers. Our own mold and runner manufacturing capabilities also fulfill our commitment to global operations: no matter where our customers are located, we can provide excellent operational services and ensure that the products produced by all our manufacturing bases have consistent quality and high consistency. "

Technology transfer for these new O-rings is expected to be completed in early 2023.