Extrusion International 3-2018

32 Extrusion International 3/2018 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT – MATERIAL HANDLING MUNACU – an inter-faculty research collaboration The inter-faculty research collaboration project “MUNACU - Multifunctional Natural Fibre & Synthetics Composites” was sparked by an announcement by the Federal Ministry of Edu- cation and Research (BMBF). This announcement detailed the fact that the BMBF is offering help to universities of applied science seeking to expand their research profile or a research focus through investment projects with the acquisition and ap- plication of research equipment through its “FHInvest” funding initiative. “Initially, we were going to combine classical wood processing methods with proven and efficient one-shot injectionmoulding technology”, explained Peter Karlinger, professor at Rosenheim University, about the project’s origins. Karlinger designed the “Multifunctional lightweight construction using raw or natural materials, with an emphasis on renewable fibres” project to- gether with his colleagues Dr.-Ing. Michael Schemme, who spe- cialises infibre composites, andDr. AndreasMichanickl fromthe faculty of wood technology and construction. Integrated system configuration In designing the pilot system, the researchers pursued an in- tegrated concept that simultaneously meets the objectives expressed by the superordinate principle of “from the raw material to the fibres and the final component”. This means that the system is correspondingly complex and comprises a number of components that are located in different depart- ments: • Refining system inside the university’sWoodMaterials & Engi- neering Laboratory for producing specific natural fibres • DCIM direct compounding injection moulder in the Polymer Processing Centre • Gravimetric synchronous dosing and blending station with four dosingmodules for supplying the compounder • Vertical clamping unit that can simultaneously be used as a stamping press • Additional injectionmoulding unit (bolt-on unit) • IMC injection moulding compounder with a continuous gravi- metric dosing system • Six-axis robot, experimental tools and test equipment Material preparation and processing using DCIM technology Pic. 1: Graviplus-series gravimetric synchronous dosing and blending station with four Labline dosingmodules, one of which can be automatically supplied withmaterial by aMetro conveying unit, while the other three have to be manually filled (all images: motan-colortronic) Multifunctional Dosing System for Combining Natural Fibres with Polymers The University of Rosenheim, Germany, has built a system – a pilot plant unique across the whole of Germany – for developing climate and resource-friendly procedures and materials for automotive applications, timber construction and furniture manufacture as well as awide range of other applications. The aim of this investment project is to combine the advantages of wood fibres with those of polymers in order to develop technologically innovative products made of natural fibre-polymer composites and to develop appropriate manufacturing technologies for producing the same Pic. 2: The modular dosing system comes with four different dosingmodules and can be quickly and easily adapted for feeding granulate, micro granulate, powder, grinding stock and liquids and various dosing tasks