Swiss Company Weidmann Over-Molds Tekron® Compound from Teknor Apex on 1.5-Meter Cowl Vent with Innovative Molded-In View Port
RAPPERSWIL-JONA, SWITZERLAND, November 6, 2007: For the cowl vent seals on two series of Peugeot automobiles, a leading injection molding company based in Switzerland has specified a Tekron® thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compound supplied in Europe by Chem Polymer, a unit of Teknor Apex.
Weidmann Plastics Technology AG selected the TPE because of its unusual combination of rubber-like mechanical properties, outstanding weathering resistance, and ease of processing, according to the company.
Situated between the windshield and the engine compartment and spanning the width of the vehicle, a cowl vent permits fresh air to pass from the outside world to the interior. For the Peugeot 207 and 307 series cars, Weidmann over-molds sealing lips of Tekron TPE that are up to 1.5 m (nearly 5 ft.) long onto cowl vent substrates of glass-reinforced polypropylene (PP). The over-molding is part of a single molding cycle for a three-component part that includes the structural PP substrate, the Tekron sealing lip, and an innovative molded-in view port which enables the chassis number of the vehicle to be visible.
Tekron TPE provides the excellent flow properties necessary to maintain precise tolerances and a smooth, attractive surface along the entire length of the cowl vent part, according to Weidmann. The company also cited the outstanding resistance of the Tekron TPE to outdoor weathering, as well as the heat stability and low compression set essential for maintaining seal integrity at the elevated temperatures in the location of the cowl vent just above the engine bay.
Teknor TPE compounds are based on styrenic block copolymers. They withstand temperatures up to 120 deg. C and stay flexible even below -60 deg. C, noted Nick Sandland, Teknor Apex's European market manager for TPEs. ''One of the key benefits that Tekron TPEs provide for Weidmann's cowl vent seal is their essentially non-reactive response to oxygen and ozone,'' said Sandland. ''Besides this superior weatherability, another important factor is the formulation of stabilizers and oxidation inhibitors provided by Teknor Apex for applications of this type.''
Weidmann Plastics Technology AG is a leading manufacturer of plastics automotive components, medical devices, kitchen and bath plumbing accessories, and components for sensors. The company has ten offices and seven plants in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Brazil, and the U.S.A., is equipped with 155 injection molding machines, and employs nearly 800 people worldwide. Weidmann is headquartered at Neue Jonastrasse 60, 8640 Rappwerswil-Jona SG, Switzerland. Tel: 41-55-221-4106. Fax: 41-55-221-4681. Visit www.weidmann-plastics.com.
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The THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER DIVISION of Teknor Apex Company is a leading manufacturer of TPE compounds, including ElexarÒ, MonpreneÒ, TelcarÒ, Tekbond®, TekronÒ, and UnipreneÒ products. Headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, U.S.A., the Division is an international supplier to the appliance, automotive, construction, medical-device, wire and cable, and other industries. Other plastics businesses of TEKNOR APEX include the Vinyl Div. (flexible vinyl), Chemical Div. (plasticizers), Specialty Compounding Div. (toll and custom compounding), Teknor Color Company (concentrates), Chem Polymer (engineering thermoplastics), and Singapore Polymer Corp. (diverse compounds and masterbatches). Visit the web site: www.teknorapex.com.
PHOTOS ATTACHED: Cowl vent seal molded by Weidmann; close-up of one end of the cowl vent seal.
