Datwyler expanding O-ring technology to Asia, North America

Schattdorf, Switzerland – Datwyler is expanding its global O-ring development and production activities with the transfer of cold runner injection moulding technology to Asia and North America.

In a statement 30 Nov, the Swiss group said the move aimed to support increasing demand for O-rings within the rapidly  developing new-mobility market.

This, it said, included growth in areas such as hydrogen storage for fuel cells, thermal management of batteries & power electronics, and sealing for components such as battery covers and inverter modules.

In particular, O-rings will need to meet a number of criteria such as surface treatments, enhanced cleanliness in production, temperature resistance and resistance to various different media and environments.

In view of the increasing demand, Datwyler said the technology transfer to sites in China and North America would further enhance supply chain security for its customers globally.

It will also enable the group to provide a “local-for-local service” that will ultimately reduce logistical demands and associated carbon emissions.

According to Datwyler, the traditional injection moulding process involves clearly defined cavities to fill, and tooling can be enlarged to provide more cavities and therefore more parts per run.

The cold-runner technology enhances efficiency further by controlling the temperature of the compound and keeping it at a low viscosity, thereby making it easier to produce precision parts.

“Within the cold runner, the compound can be injected in different areas of the tool, as opposed to a single central area,” said Richard Katona, key account manager at Datwyler.

Different injection points, Katona explained, mean “greater precision and control” over the finished product, ultimately driving waste out of the process.

Datwyler’s capability to engineer its moulding and production of tooling in-house will then help it meet the specific product tolerances required from customers with the minimum number of correction loops.

This, said the Swiss group, will help Datwyler provide same quality products across all its regions.

“O-rings require a local production footprint as our customers are looking for more supply chain security, particularly after the pandemic,” said Katona.

“Equipping our sites in Asia and North America with this technology ensures there is consistency of supply that can be reinforced by other global sites if required.

In addition, Katona said the new technology will address the ongoing issue of skilled labour shortages.

“The high level of automation associated with the process takes further pressure away from the production element, delivering high quality product with high efficiency and minimum waste,” he added.

Datwyler expects the technology transfers to be completed by early 2023.