Comerio Ercole in ultrasonic splicing link-up

Busto Arsizio, Italy - Comerio Ercole is working with Herrmann Ultraschalltechnik to commercialise a new technology for laminating fabric cord in calendering processes, the companies announced 4 May.

Comerio Ercole is a Busto Arsizio-based manufacturer of calendering equipment for the rubber industry, while Herrmann Ultraschalltechnik, of Karlsbad, Germany, is a developer and producer of ultrasonic welding devices.

Under an exclusive agreement, the partners will apply a new jointly developed ultrasound technology, named Ultrasplice, to the bonding of textile fibres which serve as inserts for tire carcasses.

“Together, we have succeeded in making the cord splicing process even faster and more efficient,” said Christoph Ochs, key account manager at Herrmann Ultraschall.

As well as stronger, more stable and, therefore, safer connections, Ochs said the process “results in enormous savings potential for the machine construction."

Conventionally, the minimal time to vulcanise into heated splice press the rubber splice joining the tail with the head of the new fabric bobbin, requires around 30-40 seconds.

With Ultrasplice, the welding process between tail and head is obtained in 2-2.5 seconds, according to the Herrmann Ultraschall manager.

Within the cycle, ultrasonic welding take less than 1 second, while lowering and lifting the actuators requires around 1.5 seconds, explained Ochs.

The splice press is now being manufactured by Comerio Ercole while the tailor-made ultrasonic actuators are provided by Herrmann Ultraschall.