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New design possibilities for lightweight construction. By combining high-strength metals with plastics, stable components with a high degree of design freedom can be produced. The advantages of both materials – plastic and metal – are combined and enhanced.
In contrast to insert and outsert technology, hybrid technology integrates both materials into a single, cohesive component with different functional properties.
Most applications are found in the automotive industry. However, the use of hybrid technology is also increasing in sectors such as household appliances (“white goods”) and the furniture industry.

The most widely used injection molding process (often referred to colloquially as injection molding or the injection molding process) is thermoplastic injection molding. This process allows both simple and highly complex geometries to be produced in a single operation. A key advantage of injection molding is its suitability for mass production, due to short cycle times and minimal post-processing. Injection-molded parts can range in weight from a few milligrams up to approximately 50 kg. The process enables the production of components with high precision, and surface finishes can be defined almost freely. Smooth surfaces for optical applications, textured surfaces for improved grip, as well as patterns and engravings can all be realized.
The combination of plastic and metal is also commonly used in injection molding. In such cases, threaded inserts, contact units, stamped grids, or continuous strips are overmolded. Processes such as insert/outsert technology as well as reel-to-reel (insert molding on strip) are also implemented in our facility.
Thermoplastics are often modified with fillers and additives to suit specific applications, including materials such as glass beads, glass fibers, and minerals.

Function of an injection molding machine: Plastic granulate is fed into the plasticizing unit via a hopper or a material handling system. A screw conveys the material to the injection nozzle while heating it to a molten state. The maximum amount of plasticized material is determined by the stroke of the reciprocating injection unit. The melt flows through the sprue channel into the mold. The mold is kept closed under pressure in the clamping unit and is temperature-controlled depending on the application. The molded part solidifies under holding pressure within the mold, during which shrinkage occurs. Each material has its own shrinkage factor. Once the mold opens along the main parting line, the molded part is ejected. The process then begins again.

Also known as reel-to-reel processing. In this process, a stamped metal strip is unwound from a reel and fed into the injection mold. After the molding process, the strip is rewound onto empty reels. Pre- and post-processing steps such as cutting and bending operations can also be integrated. This allows products to be supplied to the customer on reels or in trays.

Insert technology refers to the integration of metal components into plastic parts. In this process, metal elements (e.g. threaded inserts, shafts) are placed into the injection mold and overmolded with plastic.

Pad printing enables the printing of shaped parts, including convex and concave surfaces. This means that components without flat printing areas – which are difficult or impossible to print using screen printing – can be processed effectively. The ink is transferred from an etched printing plate (cliché) onto an elastic silicone pad. By lowering the pad onto the cliché, it adapts to the surface and picks up the image, which is then transferred onto the component. This process is known as indirect printing.

Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid or non-solid substance to flow. The reciprocal of viscosity is fluidity, which describes how easily a fluid flows. The higher the viscosity, the thicker (less flowable) the fluid; the lower the viscosity, the thinner (more flowable) it is. The term viscosity is usually associated with shear viscosity, although extensional viscosity can also be measured. In more viscous fluids, particles are more strongly bound to each other and therefore less mobile, which is why viscosity is often described as internal friction. This results not only from the cohesive forces between the particles of the fluid. In the case of solids, properties such as ductility, brittleness, and plasticity are used instead. The term “viscosity” originates from the Latin word viscum, referring to the sticky sap of mistletoe berries, from which birdlime was once produced.