First water-injection applications coming soon

Engel Canada president Walter Jungwirth says his company is working with a number of automotive manufacturers to bring the first commercial applications of Engel’s water injection technology, Watermelt, to the North American market. Watermelt gives companies the capability of injection molding hollow, thick-walled parts such as complex tubing and ductwork, components previously made from rubber or metal.
Watermelt is a variation of gas-assist molding which uses water instead of gas to push resin into the mold. The higher heat capacity of water freezes off the resin more quickly, yielding cycle time reductions of up to 75%. The process also saves the cost of gas and results in smoother, more uniform wall thickness.
Jungwirth says automotive companies are seriously interested in the technology. "We expect the first commercial applications of Watermelt to enter the North American market within the next 18 months."