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November 2008
TICONA joins the EXJECTION® Team!
The FAKUMA 2008 could be successfully used to establish a cooperation agreement between the EXJECTION® development team and the material supplier TICONA. The renowned producers of engineering polymers will bring in their extensive know how in the fields of thermoplastic materials in the current activities for series implementation of the first EXJECTION® components. One focus of the cooperation will be directed at the material sector HOSTAFORM (POM) where EXJECTION® shifts the limits known in polymer processing so far. For the first time gear racks or slide bars in lengths of more than one meter can be directly produced out of highly viscous POM grades such as HOSTAFORM C2521. The produced components show accurate reproduction of surface details and low warpage.

June 2008
Cooperation between HASCO and IB STEINER yields first results
The cooperation of the EXJECTION® development team and the company HASCO, D-58513 Lüdenscheid, one of the most well known suppliers of mould standards, yields first results.
After several months of development, targeting at a standard hot runner and nozzle system for EXJECTION® moulds, the definition of the standard set, which is installed at the hot side of the EXJECTION® mould, for series applications could be finalized. The first three sets of the defined hot runner standard have been released for production and should be available until the middle of July 2008.
This makes it possible to have a subassy of the mould that is crucial for the whole process, available as a standardized item.
The engineers of HASCO and IB STEINER could implement most of the available process Know-how into the standard insert. This standardization makes it possible for the User of the technology especially for the mould maker to go for EXJECTION® with a reduced risk while utilizing the full range of possibilities the new technology offers.

April 2008
ARBURG Technology Days 2008: Première for EXJECTION® on the new ALLROUNDER 375 V with an integrated carriage drive
In early April, more than 4,100 visitors experienced the EXJECTION® process live on the new ALLROUNDER 375 V 500-290 on the occasion of the ARBURG Technology Days 2008 in Lossburg. The technically sophisticated part CONTROL RAIL made from ABS was manufactured.
The interested visitors were shown that EXJECTION® made it possible to manufacture parts with big dimensions on injection moulding machines with small closing forces. The processing pressures remain small, and the manufacturing costs can be significantly reduced by using the new process. It also is quite easy to manufacture long, thin-walled and structured components from viscous thermoplastics. End caps and functional geometries can be formed with the profile.
The ALLROUNDER 375 V, which has a closing force of 500 kN and was presented on the Technology Days for the first time, rounds off the series of the vertical machines made by ARBURG by providing a free-space system in the upper closing force area. As needed, injection units with different sizes can be used for this machine. The exhibit is equipped with an electric dosing drive, an electric core puller as well as a worm whose position is controlled and the required EXJECTION® software. This configuration shows how the EXJECTION® process can be optimally combined with the vertical ALLROUNDER technology in conjunction with the SELOGICA control in order to enable perfect production leading to high-quality moulded parts.
As the mould is installed horizontally, the transfer movement of the moulding nest during the injection process will also be horizontal. The length of the mould, of the stroke and thus of the component is not limited by the vertical free-space system. Another special feature the engineers of ARBURG have integrated in the ALLROUNDER is the carriage drive. Thanks to this, the interaction between the mould and machine is very advantageous. This also has positive effects on the overall profitability of the EXJECTION® facility. more...

Fotos: ARBURG

March 2008
Presentation of EXJECTION Technology at the ENGEL ERFOLGSTAGE 2008 in Hagen
On March 4th and 5th, the EXJECTION® technology was presented within the ENGEL SUCCESS DAYS 2008 to an audience of specialists at the ENGEL Germany site in Hagen. In addition to an introduction to the technology within a technology lecture the EXJECTION® demonstration mould was shown in service on an ENGEL eMotion 200/55. Numerous plastic specialists from northern Germany could convince themselves of the technological potential of the process as well as discuss first possible applications.

January 2008
Design and production of the EXJECTION® mould "CONTROL LEDGE"
Based on the general agreement between the internationally successful German manufacturer of injection moulding machines for plastics ARBURG for cooperation in the field of the EXJECTION® technology the cooperation yields first results. For the presentation of the EXJECTION® technology at the ARBURG Technology Days from April 3rd to 5th, 2008 at the ARBURG head quarter in Lossburg / Germany the design and production of an EXJECTION® mould at the latest state of the art has been agreed and promptly started. It is common goal of the cooperation to apply the mould for manufacturing the technically demanding component “CONTROL LEDGE” on a competitive functionality level. Main focus of the development team will be laid on proofing the process capability while producing high quality parts.

December 2007
First processing of high performance polymers
Within a test series for the processing of high performance thermoplastic materials in the EXJECTION® process the experts of IB STEINER could impressively prove the feasibility of the EXJECTION® technology for manufacturing of parts out of ULTEM (polyetherimide, SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS) and RADEL R (polyphenylenesulfone, SOLVAY).Especially high performance thermoplast often have a narrow processing window combined with a rather high viscosity and thus a low fluidity. The low pressure level the EXJECTION® process is executed at together with the gentle filling of the cavity are the main reason for qualitatively high valued components.

November 2007
Perfect success for EXJECTION® on the K2007
The world premiere of EXJECTION® at the stand of ENGEL Austria at the K2007 in Düsseldorf was a perfect success. Interest in the new technology has even exceeded the high expectations. The specialized audience and the experts from all over the world have acknowledged the enormous opportunities offered by EXJECTION®. There are many possible applications offering economic and technical advantages. The competence and availability of the development team guarantees rapid implementation in series production for the first components manufactured by using the EXJECTION® Technology. This means manufacturers of components that use the new process can achieve clear competitive advantages in the short run.

October 2007
Presentation at the K2007
EXJECTION® is presented as a world novelty and highlight of injection moulding technology on an ENGEL e-motion 200/55 at the stand of ENGEL Austria at the K2007 in Düsseldorf in Hall 15, Stand C58. ENGEL has, as a development partner in the project EXJECTION®, established a competitive edge. It is already at the K2007 that ENGEL offers injection moulding machines of the series ENGEL e-motion for manufacturing profiles and strips with lengths of up to 3 m.

October 2007
EXJECTION® with ALLROUNDERs made by ARBURG
IB STEINER and the German machine building company ARBURG GmbH + Co KG in 72290 Lossburg agree upon co-operation in the project EXJECTION®. Now ARBURG, which is a manufacturer of injection moulding machines successful world-wide, also makes EXJECTION® Technology available for series applications using ALLROUNDERs.

October 2007
Ing. Bertold Wiesenegger subscribes for EXJECTION® manufacturing licenses
From 2008, Ing. Bertold Wiesenegger will establish his own manufacturing of EXJECTION® components in 8800 Unzmarkt/Austria. Ing. Wiesenegger is a competent development partner and expert for building moulds and process engineering and thus already has the basic know-how required for the new technology. By purchasing the EXJECTION® manufacturing licenses, he also creates the legal conditions enabling him to profit from the advantages the new process yields for series parts. On the whole, six EXJECTION® manufacturing licenses have already been sold before the start of the K2007 in Düsseldorf. Options for additional EXJECTION® licenses for building components have been granted subject to positive assessment of feasibility.

October 2007
DEMA Engineering GmbH (Ltd.) is an EXJECTION® mould builder from now on
DEMA Engineering Ltd. subscribes for a license for mould builders. Thanks to DEMA’s capacity and high competence even in the field of tool design, DEMA is still another pillar for implementing series production of EXJECTION®.

October 2007
CAD-PLAST builds EXJECTION® moulds and manufactures components
CAD-PLAST GmbH (Ltd.) in 85716 Unterschleissheim/Germany is a development partner in the field of building moulds and is perfectly familiar with the EXJECTION® Technology. The range of products of CAD-PLAST as a licensed partner company is extended by adding EXJECTION® series moulds from now on. In order to enable manufacturing of EXJECTION® components, investments are made in suitable manufacturing facilities so that such components can be offered to the customers.

September 2007
Exhibition Highlight K2007: EXJECTION® ready to go into production
The production of thin-walled profiles with a length of 1,000 mm or more has not been possible by using an injection moulding machine with a clamping force of 500 kN. The polymers used in production of profiles in automotive and in aircraft industries have melts with a very high viscosity. Their processing demands moulds with cascade gating and cost intensive production units. Extrusion does not provide the flexibility customers need to produce profiles with functional elements like fastening elements, cross ribs or caps, and textured, high quality surfaces. more...

September 2007
Simulation tool made by MOLD FLOW for the EXJECTION® Process
MOLD FLOW, a world-wide leader in manufacturing simulation software for rheological design of injection moulding parts and moulds, becomes a research and development partner in the ongoing EXJECTION® Project. The EXJECTION® Process is modelled in the program package “Moldflow Plastics Insight (MPI)”. This enables virtual assessment and optimization of components and moulds designed for manufacturing according to the new process.

September 2007
Filing for a patent for the process
The findings made in the course of research work are summarized in still another patent application. This patent application does not only refer to the EXJECTION® Process but also to moulds for this process and components manufactured according to the new process. Thanks to this, the proprietary rights for licensees are extended as to their scope and secured additionally.

August 2007
Systematic process analyses
Optimizing the function of the research mould suitable for series production and systematic studies of the process are carried out in the factory of HYBRID COMPOSITE PRODUCTS GmbH (Ltd.) in Unzmarkt. EXJECTION® components are made of all kinds of materials, such as ABS, SAN, PMMA, IONOMER, PC, TPU, PBT, PA and PP. Balanced distribution of filling materials and effect pigments is studied. The quality of the EXJECTION®strips decorated by backmoulding of decoration films is excellent.

May 2007
Demonstrating suitability for series production
For the first time EXJECTION® components with a wall thickness of 1.2 mm and a length of 930 mm are manufactured in a high quality by using the rebuilt research mould. Thus suitability for series production of the EXJECTION® Process is demonstrated! Systematic process analyses on an ENGEL e-motion injection moulding machine show the expected good influence on the process. Different types of thermoplastics are processed by means of the new process. There always is the same result, which is extremely positive: The quality of the components meets the high market requirements.

January 2007
Optimization and rebuilding of the research mould
In terms of process engineering, the injection moulding process is chosen as the dominating variant. For this purpose, sufficient filling pressure and afterpressure are effective in the cavity for moulding the component. The research mould is designed and rebuilt as a cheek mould according to the latest findings.

December 2006
Granting of a patent to the process
The Process Patent AT 500 932 B1 with the title “Method and Device for the Production of Components that are Profiled and Elongated, at least partially” is granted to Dipl.-Ing. Gottfried Steiner, Ingenieurbüro für Kunststofftechnik, Spielberg/Austria, by the Austrian Patent Office on 15 December 2006. DI Gottfried Steiner and DI Thomas Krivec are entered as inventors. In the meantime, international patent applications have been filed in due time in all the relevant markets.

June 2006
Process analysis and optimization
Process analyses in the laboratories of ENGEL Austria GmbH (Ltd.) in Schwertberg enable assessment of the details of the EXJECTION® Process. The study refers to several variants whose melt guidance is focused on the extrusion process or injection moulding process.

May 2006
Filing for a patent for the facility
Important process relevant components of the EXJECTION® mould can favourably be integrated in an injection moulding machine. This increases economic efficiency in terms of the scope of investment and manufacturing costs even more. Different integration phases are filed for a patent by Dipl.-Ing. Gottfried Steiner, Ingenieurbüro für Kunststofftechnik in Spielberg/Austria.

January 2006
Putting the research mould into operation
An important milestone consists in putting the research mould, which has been built by CAD-PLAST in the laboratory of ENGEL Austria in 4311 Schwertberg/Austria, into operation. Before this first process analyses were made by using a test mould provided by HTBL Kapfenberg. The first EXJECTION® components are manufactured. The process is acknowledged in its function. Building of the research mould ready for series production has been supported by the Special Steel Corporation BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM, the coating specialist OERLIKON BALZERS COATING, both Kapfenberg/Austria, as well as by the manufacturer of gauges HASCO, Guntramsdorf/Austria, and KISTLER Company, Winterthur/Switzerland.

July 2005
Start of the research project
The extremely positive results of the feasibility study lead to the start of the research project EXJECTION®. The project lasting for several years is co-funded within the start-up initiative by FFG (“Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH” (Austrian Research Promotion Ltd.)) in Vienna/Austria and SFG (“Steirische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft” (Styrian Research Promotion Ltd.)) in Graz/Austria. The multi-annual project has a project budget of Euro 0.7 million and is borne by IB STEINER and HYBRID COMPOSITE PRODUCTS GmbH, which is established in September 2005, both companies being based in 8724 Spielberg/Austria.

November 2004
Project start made by a feasibility study
In order to assess the basic technical and economic feasibility, a feasibility study is made with the support of FFG (“Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH” (Austrian Research Promotion Ltd.)).

October 2004
Filing for a patent for the process
The positive results of a systematic approach and basic process development lead to the filing for a patent for the process. In addition, proprietary rights are claimed for the moulds and the components manufactured by using the new process.

September 2004
Granting of trademark rights to EXJECTION® and ExM®
The terms “EXJECTION” and “ExM” (abbreviation for EXJECTION Moulding) are granted trademark rights with the Registry Numbers 219 999 (EXJECTION) and 220 000 (ExM) by the Austrian Patent Office.

May 2004
Idea for the new process
The basic objective for developing a new process is the manufacturing of long profiles and strips with functional geometries and structured surfaces made of thermoplastic materials. For this purpose, the two standard processes of injection moulding and extrusion are to be combined.

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