POINT BREAK COMPOSITES HOSTS MVP FLEX MOULDING EXPERT
CAPE Town based Point Break Composites welcomed a group of around 40 local composite industry members to a one-day workshop presented by MVP’s resin infusion specialist, Charles Tur from France, in July to showcase the latest in flex moulding systems from MVP (Magnus Venus Products).
The workshop gave attendees an insight into how this transfer of technology would allow them to easily incorporate the flex moulding process into their production.
MVP closed moulding systems focus on customers in the composite industry who are looking to go from open moulding parts to a more efficient way of closed moulding.
“When the switch happens, there are many benefits for the customer with reduced emissions, higher quality parts, cleaner facilities, and more efficient work environments,” explained Matthew Willett, MD of Point Break.
According to MVP, many customers - who have attended the various training seminars the company hosts worldwide - were able to successfully move their production from open moulding or light RTM to the flex moulding process in a very short period.
“PBC has been an authorised MVP distributor for around three years now. I have been for training in the USA and continue to stay close to MVP developments. We sell and service their equipment and carry most spares needed for the equipment my customers use,” added Willett.
PBC will also offer training and work closely with customers for MVP resin infusion equipment and processes. PCB will also be hosting more demo workshops over the next couple of months.
The flex moulding process is said to offer the following advantages:
a mix/meter infusion system provides a direct feed to the infusion membrane, eliminating the need to pre-mix resin and the use of consumable tubing and fittings
increased precision through the use of new accessories, including the pneumatic pressure vacuum sensor (PPVS-Infusion)
a new ‘lockable’ reusable membrane in addition to traditional vacuum bag infusion
MVP’s patented seals lead to large resin channels that collapse and disperse the resin in the channel, reducing costs with resin wastage, and leave little visible evidence of the resin channels.
universal membrane fittings provide a secure and quick connection for the connection valves.
MVP supply universal fittings that can be used for plastic bag infusion, silicone membrane infusion and light RTM.
“The silicone membrane gives a little more leeway than LRTM, and it is much faster than the plastic film. The biggest value is actually the Resin Infusion Machine, which can be used with plastic, silicone or LRTM. MVP boasting rights are the metering and mixing systems that they have, and this is essential for this process. Why leave it to chance of mixing catalyst by hand, and leaving it in a bucket?” said Willett.
“Using the MVP Patriot Innovator with all the MVP accessories as a system to infuse your part gives you the means to reproduce a part, time after time, consistently and very efficiently. PBC with the backing of MVP follow the process all the way with the best service ensuring the best possible results are achieved,” he added.
Why use the flex moulding process?
Film infusion moulding, using either infusion films or reusable films made with silicon, polyurethane or latex membranes, has slowly gained popularity over traditional closed mould methods. The costs and learning curve involved in mould tooling are much lower with film infusion than the traditional rigid light RTM double mould set alternative, the company explains.
However, one of the challenges in the film infusion process has been a lack of emphasis on the improvements of feeding resin under the membrane. In the past, it has been normal to pre-mix the resin in a separate container and have the vacuum ‘draw’ the resin into the mould through a number of ports strategically placed in the infusion membrane. This method produces good results, particularly with large parts such as boat hulls and large wind turbine blades.
However, there was still a need for a better solution to the continuous renewal of feed pipes, reservoir cleanout, waste of resin after infusion and the labour required for each moulding cycle in setting up the tubing and establishing the vacuum connection security.
In answer to these challenges MVP developed a flex moulding process package that consists of injection systems, accessories and seals designed to optimise infusion.
More about Point Break Composites
Point Break Composites (PBC) supplies innovative production solutions for composites.
Started five years ago, but with over 15 years’ experience in GRP production, PBC is an authorised and trained MVP distributor, and supplies closed moulding equipment for injection/infusion and the construction of reusable membranes, accessories and seals, as well as open moulding equipment, chop/wetout systems and gelcoat systems, adhesive and putty systems, speciality systems, system accessories and chop/wetout guns and gelcoat guns.
More about MVP
Founded in 1938 in Chicago, USA, Magnum Venus Products (MVP) manufactures composite application equipment. MVP products consist of pumping systems, spray guns, filament winding systems, and much more.
MVP serves a multitude of manufacturers in a variety of industries such as automotive, aerospace, transportation, marine, railway, oil and gas, wind turbine, among many others. Along with its systems designed for composite application, MVP also has equipment that supports the foam and polyurethane industries, along with polyureas, adhesives, and epoxies.