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[March 2006]
Experts in Technical Ceramics Meet at Arburg
On 9-10 March 2006, the Spring 2006 Meeting of the Technical Commission of the Advanced Ceramics Section of the Verband der Keramischen Industrie eV (VKI, German Ceramic Industry Association) took place in Lossburg, Germany.
Arburg's powder injection moulding (PIM) expert, Dipl Min Hartmut Walcher, provided information to about 20 participants on ceramic injection moulding as an innovative process for the manufacture of complex components. On the second day, the programme continued with a visit to the Arburg GmbH plant, featuring a company tour which included the PIM laboratory.
The Advanced Ceramics section is the business sector within the VKI with the highest turnover, into which approximately 90% of the manufacturers of technical ceramics in Germany have organised themselves. The member companies supply their products to all branches of the machine and plant construction, electrical, electronics, medical, high temperature, chemical and process technology sectors.
In recent years, injection moulding has gained importance in manufacturing technologies for technical ceramics. In order to obtain comprehensive information on the theory and practice of ceramic injection moulding, Dr Ing Detlev Nicklas, VKI Managing Director, Advanced Ceramics Section, suggested Arburg as the venue for the Spring 2006 meeting.
For several decades, Arburg has been involved in PIM and is one of the pioneers in this sector. In his presentation, Hartmut Walcher portrayed injection moulding as an innovative process for the manufacture of complex components. He emphasised the long-term PIM expertise of the company, reflected by two milestones: in 1961 Arburg built the first ceramic injection moulding machine for Feldmuehle and in 1991 introduced its own PIM laboratory in which machines and equipment for all processing stages are available.
Mr Walcher provided a detailed presentation of the individual stages, such as feedstock preparation, injection moulding, debinding and sintering and explained the demands placed upon the injection moulding machine and its equipment.
Finally, with numerous practical examples from many different user industries, he highlighted the broad range of applications for ceramic injection moulding.
The delegates were welcomed to Arburg on 10 March by Managing Director for Sales, Helmut Heinson who briefly introduced the company and its products. Subsequently, Hartmut Walcher and Marko Maetzig showed visitors the PIM laboratory and the broad Arburg service for the PIM sector. This ranges from consultation with regard to materials and mould design, through testing and sample part production, to practice-oriented PIM training.
During the company tour, the guests were able to see the manufacture of Arburg injection moulding machines.
www.arburg.com
ENDS