TPT September 2010

I ndustry N ews

In-line inspection leads to new orders

FLEXI-CELL UK recently commissioned an in-line inspection system from Pixargus to document the high product quality of the company’s profiles for the automobile industry. With this system, Flexi-Cell has not only improved the dimensional integrity of the products but also achieved increased throughput from the extrusion line. Flexi-Cell UK, part of the Berwin Group, installed the inspection system to monitor the dimensional stability of precision extruded rubber profiles. The non-contacting optical system provides a continuous 360° view quality check of the profile dimensions, monitoring the product within pre-set tolerances. Generally invisible to the human eye, any non-conforming areas are identified, automatically cut out to avoid inadvertent inclusion in deliveries to customers and recorded on a continuously running log. Customers receive a batch-related copy of the log to verify the integrity of the extruded profile quality. The Pixargus inspection system was

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The Pixargus PCD 360 X continuous inspection unit installed at Flexi-Cell UK

a critical factor in Flexi-Cell’s recent successful bid for supply of rubber profiles to a major European automotive component manufacturer. John English, Flexi-Cell’s projects manager, commented, “To gain this business, we had to work closely with our customer and demonstrate our experience and absolute commitment to consistent product quality. The Pixargus equipment, together with the high quality supply of compound from our Berwin parent gave us the edge we needed. Production volumes are now exceeding our initial expectations.” The PCD X360 inspection system from Pixargus is an in-line profile measuring system that takes dimensional information from the external surface of the profile at a rate of two to eight times per second. These readings are compared with a reference profile and any deviations are recorded and displayed. The reference profile can be directly loaded into the system as a DXF- CAD file. Pixargus has developed a new LED- based illumination technology for the system, which, when compared with laser- based systems, gives higher measuring accuracy combined with longer service life. In addition, a robust touch-screen operator

interface, capable of withstanding the hard conditions of the everyday working environment, makes the operation of the system simple and intuitive, whilst the low maintenance requirements of the Pixargus system contributes to the low total cost of ownership. Pixargus designs, develops and manufactures systems for the in-line measurements of extruded profiles, sheet and web products. Founded in 1999 as a spin-off of the German Institute for Plastics Processing (IKV), part of the Aachen Technical University, Pixargus specialises in optical quality control of plastics and rubber extruded products. Pixargus systems are used in the inspection of sealing profiles – for example in the automobile industry – tubes, catheters, cables or window profiles as well as raw material compounds of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and rubber. In addition, Pixargus manufactures systems for the inspection of web-type products, such as textured, woven and non- woven materials. Pixargus GmbH – Germany

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Fax: +49 2405 47908 11 Email: info@pixargus.de Website: www.pixargus.de

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S eptember 2010

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