Schmersal produces AZM300 with innovative Plasma-SealTight^® technology for the first time

New manufacturing process for plastic-metal bonds is being tested in first industrial application.

A new, innovative process to manufacture plastic-metal bonds is currently being tested in an industrial application. Plasmatreat GmbH has developed a process for hybrid injection-moulded parts in cooperation with the plastic compound manufacturer AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH. This new process provides a significant improvement to bonding in hybrid plastic-metal components and can be integrated into series production lines.

The Schmersal Group is now using this innovative Plasma-SealTight^® technology process for the first time in a pilot project to produce its AZM300 solenoid lock. Used on safety doors, this interlock features a metal bracket integrated into a plastic actuator. The bracket engages with an interlock cross-head to ensure that safety doors are securely closed.

A reliable, firm bond is crucial during the joining process to produce a high-quality, resistant joint between the dissimilar materials plastic and metal. In a plastic-metal bond, interfaces without a special seal represent a constant contact surface where water, air or other media ingress.

The Plasma-SealTight^® plasma seal process developed by Plasmatreat and AKRO-PLASTIC offers a completely new approach to providing a highly bonding, media-resistant hybrid joint. In this new industrial solution, the plastic compound formula, the process parameters, and the composition of a plasma-polymer seal layer created under atmospheric pressure were matched to one another in such a way that they would create a durable, media-tight bond in the component.

The advantage of the new process is that it not only achieves better product quality, but also a reliable, reproducible, cost-efficient production process with the added bonus of respecting the environment. Thanks to the Plasma-SealTight^® technology, there is no need to apply cost-intensive, environmentally harmful chemicals to metal surfaces. Such chemicals are often used to create a firm bond with the help of solvent-based adhesion promoters.

The AZM 300 is an innovative safety interlock which is now used in many sectors of industry. AZM 300’s outstanding features include a new patented operating principle with a hub and cross-head. It brings the advantage that the safety door is pulled into its end position when closed and is securely locked free of almost any clearance.

The solenoid interlock operates as an integrated guard catch, hence removing the need to fit a separate catch. An RFID sensor is used to identify the actuator reliably, thus providing three different code levels and, consequently, protection against manipulation.

If the new process proves to be successful after completion of a pilot phase, Schmersal intends to use it in both new and existing products, thus producing them even more efficiently.

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