Extrusion

Extrusion allows for the production of continuous seals in various shapes: both hollow chamber profiles and lip profiles are possible – or even a combination of both.?

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The process at a glance:

1. The plastic granulate is melted in a heated extruder.
2. The pressurized, liquid material is forced through a nozzle via a tube.
3. The extruded strip is then cooled down and the strand is cut off at the required point or wound up in order to be processed at the assembly location.

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KUKA has developed a special process technology for flexible extrusion of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE): using a robot, sealing strips for the automotive industry can thus be fixed directly on the component.?

Robot-guided extrusion allows us to automate your production process and make it more flexible and efficient.

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Process description

With this solution, the extrusion nozzle is no longer attached to the extruder, instead it is flexibly mounted on a robot.?The extruder and extrusion nozzle are connected via a heated and pressure-resistant tube.?The robot’s nozzle follows the desired path on the component.

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For automated extrusion, the

• flow rate of the extrusion and the robot movement must be synchronized, and
• customized solutions must be sought (no standard products).

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Thanks to our many years of expertise in this technology and our in-house mold shop, where we develop and test nozzles and produce prototypes for sample inspection, we are able to offer each and every customer the optimum extrusion procedure.

Robot-guided extrusion allows us to combine two process steps – the production of the strip and assembly – into one. This enables you to

• become more flexible
• shorten your cycle time and
• produce more economically as a result.

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Thanks to the TPE sealing material, we can also produce complex and diverse strips and shapes.