Technology, material and component – these three factors must be optimally coordinated for the automated production of PU foam gaskets.
Foam gaskets made of polyurethane (PU) protect components from dirt, dust and moisture. They are applied, for example, to doors and ventilation grilles of switch cabinets, to loudspeakers and housings of control units in cars or as clear encapsulation on LED lights. Production is automated in many industries. However, there are still many companies that glue the foam gaskets in manually. The fact is: the automated application has less room for error compared to the manual application, but the process is demanding.
Technology, material and component must be precisely coordinated in order to optimise the production process. In any case, competent advice and support from experts is advisable here. This is offered jointly by the metering and mixing technology manufacturer DOPAG and the sealing and dispensing technology specialist Stassen Industries. The partnership focuses on advising customers on all aspects of gasketing, potting and adhesive applications in contract manufacturing, the production of prototypes and support in the integration and commissioning of the DOPAG dynamicLine, an automated gasketing system.
PU foam gaskets are produced using the FIPFG process (formed-in-place foam gasket). A fully automated system is suitable for series production with high quantities. It enables easy handling of the components and meets all requirements in terms of process reliability and quality standards. Automated material application offers many advantages over manual application. High economic efficiency and a long service life can be achieved. More and higher quality foam gaskets can be produced in a shorter time. Thanks to the controlled overlap, there are no disadvantageous coupling points as with manual gluing. The start and end points of the foam bead merge into one another.
