HENNECKE DEVELOPS MACHINE DESIGNED TO ADVANCE NEW, MORE EFFICIENT METHOD OF COATING AUTOMOTIVE WOOD TRIM WITH POLYURETHANE

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HENNECKE DEVELOPS MACHINE DESIGNED TO ADVANCE NEW, MORE EFFICIENT METHOD OF COATING AUTOMOTIVE WOOD TRIM WITH POLYURETHANE
02 August 2001 - Bayer MaterialScience AG

Hennecke Group announces that it has developed a new line of polyurethane dispensing equipment which enables manufacturers to cost-effectively apply clear polyurethane coatings to automobile door and dashboard trim panels made of fine woods.

Hennecke's ClearRIM machinery enables manufacturers to realize economical efficiencies when compared to costly and labor intensive conventional spray-coat varnishing processes. This method requires the application of several layers of varnish coupled with several days of drying time and subsequent grinding and polishing.

Hennecke's ClearRIM machinery enables manufacturers to convert to the new polyurethane process, which reduces manufacturing time, the number of rejects, and 'fogging' -- the slow emission of chemical components that may occur from conventional spray-coating systems.

In the new ClearRIM process, the trim component is placed in a mold, the gap between the componentand the mold is filled with clear polyurethane, and the trim component is removed after the polyurethane coating cures in about four minutes. Only minimal refinishing is required.

'To achieve such manufacturing efficiencies, the new ClearRIM process places great demands on the metering system,' said Dr. Donald A. Folajtar, Director and General Manager of Bayer Corporation's Hennecke Machinery Group, Lawrence, PA. 'It requires processing temperatures in excess of 50°C (122°F), and because very small amounts of polyurethane materials are used - often just a few grams - the tiniest air bubbles can cause rejects,' Folajtar continued. 'To achieve such close tolerances, Hennecke uses an HK 55 high- pressure foaming machine specially designed with a MT 5 recirculation mixhead. This compact unit also saves manufacturing floor space as it has a small footprint.'

In addition to manufacturing efficiencies, the ClearRIM technology off ers other advantages over the conventional spray- coating varnishing method in which more than 50% of the solvent-containing varnish is lost as over-spray. Reduced finishing requirements cut labor costs, less material is wasted, and waste disposal costs are reduced accordingly.

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About: Bayer MaterialScience AG
Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is part of the worldwide Bayer Group, an international health care, nutrition and innovative materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. Bayer employs 23,300 in North America with net North American sales of 8.8 billion euros in 2003. Bayer’s three operating business areas – HealthCare, CropScience and MaterialScience, improve people’s lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose and treat diseases, protect crops and advance automobile safety and durability.

Bayer MaterialScience AG is one of the world's largest producers of polymers and high-performance plastics. The main customers for Its innovative developments in coatings, adhesives, insulating materials and sealants, polycarbonates and polyurethanes are the automotive and construction industries, the electrical/electronics segment and manufacturers of sports and leisure goods, packaging, and medical devices.

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