Injection Moulding

Our long-term emphasis has always been on product durability, innovation and quality, all of which are demonstrated by our polyurethane edged products.

Skilled toolmakers make moulds in-house, and using low pressure injection moulding machines, specifically designed for us, we are able to cast around the mould creating any desired edging profile.

We operate two polyurethane systems within our process:-

• For non-fire rated applications, our standard polyurethane edging system is a low viscosity polyurethane elastomer with a Shore hardness of 80A (medium soft rating) giving a comfort feel to our edges. This system boasts a quick gel time of between 5 to 10 minutes, allowing swift de-mould times and rapid part changeovers
• For fire rated applications, we have made significant investment over recent years, developing our own FR polyurethane edging system that is compliant to Rail standards EN 45545-2:2013+A12015 meeting requirements set R22 and R23 for Hazard Levels HL1, HL2 and HL3, and 49 CFR Section 238.103(c)(3) for Fire Safety. As with our non-fire rated system, our FR system has a Shore hardness of 80A (medium soft rating) with quick gel times to allow rapid part changeovers.

Reaction Injection Moulding (RIM) is the result of a reaction between isocyanate and polyol as they are injected into a closed mould at low pressure. The two components are mixed together as they flow into the mould as a low viscosity liquid, and the reaction, which increases the temperature and the pressure at the surface of the tool, forms the polyurethane part in the tool cavity.

We are increasingly specifying RIM parts as a more repetitive and cost effective alternative to GRP parts, and because this process is conducted in-house, we are able to maintain control of product from tooling design through to manufacture.

Our RIM parts have a Shore hardness of 80D (hard), and can be supplied primed, painted or surface treated with graphics to simulate various textures.