New Desma rotary press adds efficiency, automation

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—Manufacturing isn't just about the quality of the products you make. It's also about how efficiently you can make them. Finding a way to produce the highest quality parts in the most efficient way—that's the sweet spot.

And when it comes to both quality and efficiency, Desma USA Inc. says it has your back.

During the International Elastomer Conference, hosted Oct. 11-13 in Knoxville, Desma USA representatives were showcasing some of the company's newest products and technologies, those designed to help customers achieve both efficiency and quality on their shop floors.

And one of those products is the Desma 968 Rotary Compact. It's a machine that takes automation further, according to Scott Early, president and CEO of Hebron, Ky-based Desma USA.

"It's a twist on how to mold parts," Early said. "Instead of a traditional molding method, this machine has an indexing device, and it moves a tool package underneath four different clamping stations to allow (more efficient manufacturing of) certain products, if they are fit for this type of machine."

The efficiency, he said, comes from the reduction in cycle time. Because the machine can divvy up the vulcanization process between the four stations, it can trim as much as 30 percent of the overall cycle time from the process.

In a pamphlet detailing the machine, Desma notes that the process is especially helpful when long vulcanization times and insert loading tasks are required.

The FIFO-A injection unit comes with a high-pressure variant and can be fitted with FlowControl+, which can further reduce heating time and nozzle lock. In total, the Desma 968 Rotary has five control pumps that help to ensure multiple parallel movements that keep the machine times to a minimum.

Further, the new press allows for molds with low numbers of cavities and maximum yield, thanks to the available four-mold capacity. And the Desma 968 Rotary has the ability to run with only one, two or three molds, making it possible to keep the machine running if molds are in need of cleaning or repair.

Increased up time and reduced cycle times are two parts of an equation that the machinery maker is helping rubber product manufacturers solve. The Desma 968 Rotary also helps with another factor: labor shortages.

"In this world that we are living in, where labor is a problem and people can't get workers, it makes the payback on automation much more palatable," Early said. "In this machine, you can have one robot standing in one place the entire time. And instead of every three to four minutes the robot doing something … the robot is being utilized more effectively and so the automation payback makes sense."

Now more than ever, customers are seeking equipment that brings enhanced automation to the shop floor. This, Early said, is driven in part by the labor shortage, but it's also being driven by the desire to further enhance efficiencies in the production process.

Those are things that Desma knows well, Early said. Customers also can find confidence in the technology and design of Desma machines. After all, the company has been on the cutting edge of the technology, Early said, pointing to Desma USA's parent company Kloeckner Desma Elastomertechnik GmbH, which is headquartered Germany and has been helping European customers find success with automation and efficiency.

"The Europeans are very keen on labor costs, and the products developed by Desma—be it brush systems or sliding devices—have always had a slant toward improving ergonomics or improving how few operators you need on a machine or for any given cycle time," Early said. "And when you look at robots being used … it has a common control system. Desma is leading the way for having one common control system for an automated cell vs. having a robotic control system talking to the Desma machine control system. We think that is an advantage for customers from a trouble-shooting standpoint."

In helping to bring automation to the shop floor, Desma USA also is working to ensure that its customers have exactly the kind of maintenance and technical support they need to keep their machinery up and running.

To this end, the Desma 968 Rotary employs the company's Smart Connect software, which allows customers to access an array of data instantly through a mobile app. This, Early said, gives supervisors and engineers the power to manage an entire production floor from anywhere in the world.

And when they need support from Desma, the company will be there to help.

"(Technical support and maintenance) is an area we are continuing to staff up and add processes and add people," Early said. "The rubber industry in America is continuing to demand machines that are efficient and reliable, and suppliers that can support it. We are working hard to fill that space."

In the years ahead, Early said, customers can expect to see more automated machinery options from Desma.

"We are bringing a lot of automation in-house at Desma," Early said. "… We see the future as needing more automation, and we are investing in our company to be able to do that."