THERMOFORMING OF COATED FOIL MATERIALS

In addition to their use for interior items, plastics are increasingly being used on the exterior of vehicles. Colour-coated foil materials can be used to substitute complex coating processes. The goal is to create a top-class surface finish. This is done by using a positive highly-polished vacuum-capable thermoforming tool to form the components in clean-room conditions. The subsequent back-injection or back-pressing process provides the required dimensional stability.

Kiefel ensures optimum compatibility for the entire process sequence used in the thermoforming of coated foil materials:

• Tool configuration with shrinkage rate detectionThermoformwerkzeug
• Thermoforming tool
• Cleaning technology for foil material
• Clean-room technology
• Thermoforming technology

POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS

In the interior:

• Automotive interiors increasingly incorporate designer-style decorative elements in doors and instrument panels. This involves the three-dimensional forming of thin ABS foil with compressed-air support. Depending on the surface of the ABS foil, it is possible to produce an aluminium or wood-look design. A subsequent back-injection process gives the component its dimensional stability.

In the exterior:

• Forming of roof modules
• Forming of wing elements
• Forming of various hood and cover elements
• Forming of bumper bars and other body elements

Example: polished forming tool

click to enlarge

For more information download a PDF-brochure in the download-section