Open day for UK rubber processors

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 25, 2004

Rapra Technology is holding an open day for UK rubber processors at its Shawbury, Shrewsbury headquarters on 20th April 2004.

Rapra Technology is holding an open day for UK rubber processors at its Shawbury, Shrewsbury headquarters on 20th April 2004.

Barwell, through German machine manufacturer LWB Steinl, has recently supplied and commissioned with Rapra Technology one of the company's latest C class machines, a VCE 500/160 TPE and rubber injection-moulding machine.

The new machine will be at the heart of the technical demonstrations and activities on 20th April.

Led by Jenny Cooper, Rapra's rubber technology services have recently included the outsourcing of small-scale production runs of rubber moulded items.

"We quote a full service to all rubber manufacturers and OEMs, including outsourced quality assurance, materials analysis, development and specification, failure diagnosis, making prototypes and production of rubber goods for niche applications", she says.

Cooper adds: "It is true that much of our business is on a repeat basis with existing clients.

However, we continue to gain new business for complex, difficult applications, ie those that require rubbers to be developed to meet high performance requirements and have low production volumes.

Our new Steinl machine will give us much more of a potential spectrum of client activity, existing and new".

During the day, presentations will also be given on the application of Sigmasoft, a fully 3D injection moulding simulation software package.

Rapra is the sole UK and Ireland agent but also provides the service on a consultancy basis.

This technique is now well established and delivers a "virtual tooling" validation service for those clients that need it for their rubber-based innovations.

Rapra expects its clients will principally use the Steinl machine for material and product development.

Services will include: product design and 3D Sigmasoft mould tool simulation; material, additive and compound development; development trials and prototype manufacture; process review and on-site troubleshooting; product and material validation; and training.