Belgium-based Quadrant CMS, a major European design, moulding, assembly and
logistics company, selected Akulon® UltraFlow® K-FG12 polyamide 6 (PA6) from
DSM Engineering Plastics to mould hinge assemblies of a consumer market
full-body tanning solarium for Philips. Akulon PA6 provides significantly
faster moulding, better surface finish and the ability to take on a broader
range of colour than the conventional glass-filled PA6 grade it replaced.
Akulon UltraFlow K-FG12, a 60-percent glass-filled formulation, meets the need
for high strength and stiffness, as the ratchet-like hinge must support the
solarium’s 50+ kg top at various angles. The high flow characteristics of
Akulon UltraFlow also proved important, both to fill the hinge’s intricate
ribs and geometry, and to ensure mouldability at temperatures low enough to
permit a broad range of colour masterbatches.
“We worked with the Quadrant CMS design team to find the right combination of
mechanical strength, surface finish and colour,” said Wim Dirven, Account
Manager for DSM Engineering Plastics. “UltraFlow in this case preserves
surface aesthetics despite the heavy glass loading, and it helps prevent
warpage. A plus is its capability to fill moulds at relatively low
temperatures, so that a broader range of colours can be used—colour and
aesthetics are particularly important in consumer products.”
