ATM to supply high-tech plastics jointing machine

ATM to supply high-tech plastics jointing machine

Keywords: Plastics, Assembly

ATM Automation, a leading UK specialist supplier of robotics and automation systems for the plastics industry, has been awarded a contract by Peguform UK Limited to build and supply a new-technology plastics jointing and assembly machine for automotive components.

Under the £70,000 contract, ATM is designing and building the new machine which uses a thermal jointing technology known as pulse-staking to assemble special plastics cover-panels. These rocker-cover panels will be supplied by Peguform for the Epsilon, General Motors' soon-to-be-launched replacement for the Vauxhall Vectra. The new ATM machine welds a right-hand and left-hand pair of rocker panels simultaneously in a cycle time of just 20 seconds. The machine, currently being built at ATM's production facility in Leicester, was due for delivery to Peguform in May this year.

The pulse-staking system uses specially-profiled, electrically-heated contact tips to join the plastics components with high-integrity welds but without surface damage on the component "A" face. Operating as a direct replacement for present technology ultrasonic welding systems, but giving significantly improved weld surface quality, the pulse-staking system was originally developed in Japan by leading plastics company Munekata.

ATM are now working in partnership with Munekata to expand the installation base of the technology within the UK and European markets. The new system can be controlled with greater precision than alternative hot-air welding, but unlike either ultrasonics or hot-air methods, pulse-staking eliminates completely the possibility of damage to adjacent components through heat or vibration.