LIFT TRUCK STEERING WHEEL IS MOULDED 33% FASTER, HAS BETTER SURFACE USING AKULON® ULTRAFLOW® PA6

Euroform AB (Tranås, SE) reduced injection moulding cycle times by 33% in the production of a steering wheel for an industrial lift-truck, and gained 49% better productivity after switching from a conventional polyamide 6 (PA6) to Akulon® Ultraflow® PA6 from DSM Engineering Plastics. Euroform is a general producer of plastic parts for a diversity of customers. DSM Engineering Plastics is a business group within the DSM N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam:DSM) Performance Materials cluster.

Akulon Ultraflow combines the toughness, abrasion resistance and dimensional integrity of traditional PA6 with enhanced processability, in-mould flow, and product surface finish. The lift-truck steering wheel is moulded in two parts from Akulon Ultraflow K-FG6, a 30% glass-filled, high-flow PA6 grade. Both steering wheel parts feature detailed recesses, plus mounting bosses, clips and through-holes for the truck’s controls and control wiring, as well as exterior surfaces that must look good and stand up to demanding industrial use.

“Akulon Ultraflow provides Euroform with superior surface finish in addition to significantly reduced cycle times, thanks to its extreme flowability,” says Bert Havenith, General Product Manager Akulon. “DSM Engineering Plastics has worked collaboratively with Euroform for many years, helping to provide top-quality components to such Euroform customers as Husqvarna, Volvo, IKEA and Scania.”

Akulon Ultraflow is an easy to process PA6 that offers up to 80% improved flow and up to 40% reduction in injection molding cycle times with no significant effect on mechanical properties compared to standard PA6 grades. The improvement of flow is the result of DSM Engineering Plastics’ proprietary technology. Enhanced flow translates into the benefits of improved surface appearance, lower molded-in-stress, reduced warpage, less molding tonnage, and increased design freedom. Ultraflow is part of the Akulon family of PA formulations from DSM Engineering Plastics.