News around POLYRACK

Straubenhardt, August 26, 2015 - RAPP Kunststofftechnik, specialist for plastics within the POLYRACK TECHGROUP, has invested significantly in the expansion of its machinery. With a new 13,000kN injection molding machine, the company is expanding its existing portfolio of products and services for plastic parts weighing up to approx. 6,000g.

With the new 13,000kN (1,300t) injection molding machine at the Ettlingen plant, RAPP Kunststofftechnik is now able to produce parts with dimensions of up to one meter and weights of up to approx. 6 kilograms. This opens up new opportunities for all companies in the POLYRACK TECH-GROUP network to expand their product range and consistently align it to the constantly growing requirements of their markets and customers. Starting with development, prototyping and toolmaking, the company pursues the holistic production process of thermoplastic parts, e.g. in the processes of compact injection molding, thermoplastic foam molding (TSG) or multi-component technology (2K, 3K).
RAPP Kunststofftechnik also invested in a new crane system for handling loads of up to 10 tons. Among other things, it allows the heavy and sensitive injection molding tools to be handled professionally. RAPP Kunststofftechnik also integrated a drying system with automatic granulate feed directly to the machines for reliable preparation of the plastic granulates. When selecting the new injection molding machine, including the associated machine peripherals, the company also focused on energy and environmental aspects. In order to achieve and ensure energy-efficient operation, energy consumption is continuously monitored. It was only in 2013 that POLYRACK TECH-GROUP put the plant with the punch laser center in Ettlingen into operation, after the existing machinery had been expanded to include another automated punch nibbling machine (TRUPUNCH 5000) and the TRULASER 5030 Fiber flatbed laser, as well as an automated high-bay warehouse for machine supply. At the same location, the company is now expanding its injection molding capacity by a further 20-30%. In addition, there is space for up to six more injection molding machines in the >400t size range.

Characteristics Injection molding machine:
Negri Bossi, Type V1300-12000
Clamping force: 13,000kN (1,300t)
Clamping dimension: 1,400 x 1,200mm
Maximum part size: approx. 600 x 1,000mm
Maximum part weight: approx. 6,000g

Straubenhardt, February 04, 2015 - The new PanelPC 2 series from POLYRACK is suitable for a wide range of applications with a large number of variants. Equipped with a capacitive touchscreen and expansion options, the PanelPC 2 can withstand even the toughest conditions in industrial environments.

POLYRACK has designed its PanelPC 2 series specifically for HMI/MMI applications in industry. The products can be used in the extended temperature range from -20° to +85°C and also withstand the highest requirements in terms of shock and vibration. Thanks to IP65, the housings are reliably protected against the ingress of dust and water.

Customers can choose between different designs and variants: Display sizes up to 23" are possible. In terms of housing construction, customers can choose between the "milled aluminum" variant and the sheet metal bending solution based on the "EmbedTEC" housing system as well as in stainless steel frame construction, an extremely variable housing series for embedded computing and HMI from POLYRACK. The user interface of the PanelPC 2 series consists of a multi-touch capable capacitive touchscreen (PCAP), a resistive touchscreen is also available on request. For industrial applications, POLYRACK offers specially hardened glasses and anti-fingerprint coatings as optional additional equipment. As standard, the products are rear-mounted according to VESA 75/100, and their ventilation is passive. The PanelPC 2 series thus fulfills all functional requirements in the technical application area, including intuitive operation, as well as the visual demands of a modern design.

Focus on technological diversity and high vertical integration.

Straubenhardt, January 20, 2015 - POLYRACK TECH-GROUP closed the 2014 financial year with Group sales of EUR 45.8 million. The specialist for customer-specific electronic packaging solutions thus achieved an increase of 9% compared to the previous year and is continuing its growth trajectory on its 35th anniversary.

The Straubenhardt-based company POLYRACK TECH-GROUP can look back on a successful year: "Our group of companies achieved sustainable growth in all business areas and markets in 2014. We achieved or even exceeded our targets in almost all parts of the company," says Andreas Rapp, CEO of POLYRACK TECH-GROUP.

POLYRACK is focusing on further expanding its vertical integration in all of the Group's areas of expertise. In order to strengthen the market position of RAPP Kunststofftechnik GmbH as a specialist for injection molded parts and plastic tools, the company invested in a 1,300-ton injection molding machine at the end of 2014. Andreas Rapp explains: "With RAPP Kunststofftechnik, we have already been able to offer a wide range of processes - from compact injection molding, TSG and multi-component technology to hotmelt processes and insert technology. With the current expansion, we will further consolidate our unique position as a cross-technology system supplier. This is because we see the strength of our Group in the combination of our expertise in mechanical production, systems technology/electronics, plastics technology and surface treatment. This gives our customers the choice of all common materials and technologies." In addition to RAPP Plastics Technology, POLYRACK TECH-GROUP also includes POLYRACK Electronic Assembly Systems and RAPP Surface Processing. They cover the following areas of expertise: development and design, mechanical production, plastics technology, systems technology, surface technology and standard products. By far the largest part of the business is accounted for by customer-specific solutions.

New subsidiary with location in Belgium

In addition to the strategically important locations in the USA and China, POLYRACK has expanded further with its subsidiary POLYRACK Benelux S.P.R.L.. From the central location in Fernelmont, Belgium, the sales and assembly team supports customers in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the northern French departments. "With this step, we have sustainably expanded the value chain for the local markets, especially in the area of final assembly and dust-free display assembly with various test procedures. This enables us to offer our globally active customers increased customer service and advice on site for solutions with consistently high quality," explains Rapp.

New developments in the product portfolio

Important new POLYRACK developments in 2014 include an ATR system (Air Transportation Rack) for use in harsh mechanical, climatic, chemical and electrical environments. With the new Panel PC series, POLYRACK also developed a variety of panel solutions for the embedded sector. It is suitable for a wide range of applications, especially in industrial environments, even in the extended temperature range (-20°C to +85°C). The "System Technology" product area was expanded with high-speed backplanes "VPX" and "CompactPCI Serial" for data transfer rates of up to 10 GBit/s.

Growth markets: medical technology, control technology, railroad and traffic control technology

POLYRACK's main growth markets in 2014 were medical technology, control technology and railroad and traffic control technology. The company acquired a number of well-known new customers in these areas in 2014. They will also be the focus in 2015 and POLYRACK will present its industry-specific applications at the respective leading trade fairs: At RailTEX (12-14.05.15 in Birmingham, UK), POLYRACK will be presenting housing solutions and panel PCs specially designed to meet the requirements of transport and rail technology; at Compamed (16-19.11., Düsseldorf), the focus will be on panel PCs, thermoplastic injection molded parts and sheet metal parts or assemblies, integrated solutions for slide-in and desktop housings, backplanes and microcomputer add-on systems (MPS) for medical applications. At embeded world (February 24-26, Nuremberg) and SPS/IPC Drives (November 24-26, Nuremberg), POLYRACK will be exhibiting the entire range of its innovative enclosure and system solutions as well as panel PCs for HMI / MMI applications. In addition, POLYRACK TECH-GROUP will be represented at trade fairs in North America, the Netherlands and Russia in 2015. "Last year's trade fairs, above all electronica, but also InnoTrans and Compamed, were very successful for us. With our further refined trade fair concept, we were able to attract the attention of both our existing customers and potential new customers. We will continue to focus on this in 2015," explains Andreas Rapp.

Straubenhardt, November 05, 2014 - POLYRACK TECH-GROUP has successfully had a subrack based on the Future series certified in accordance with EN 60068. With a weight of 10 kg, it can withstand shock loads of up to 5G. This makes it suitable for use in harsh environments with high mechanical stress, such as in railroad wagons, power plant construction, mines and trucks. This underlines POLYRACK TECH-GROUP 's claim to be a solution provider that, in addition to development and customer-specific adaptation through to the finished product, also undertakes certification with accredited partners.

POLYRACK carried out the certification on behalf of the customer. The customer was already using standard subracks and was looking for a model with a higher weight that could withstand greater mechanical shocks. For this purpose, POLYRACK designed a modified model based on the Future series with reinforced, positive-locking corner angles and bolted all parts together in 2 positions. POLYRACK used four dummy cards weighing 2.5 kg each as weights. TÜV Rheinland subjected this model to a resonance test, fixed frequency test, sine vibration test and mechanical shock of 5G in x- and y-axis and 3G in z-axis. The result: Neither resonances nor visible mechanical damage such as material fracture, cracks or deformation were detectable. The subrack can therefore be used in railroad cars, for example, both longitudinally and transversely to the direction of travel, and in any position in trucks, mines and power plants. Like many other variants of the Future series, it is available with different shielding concepts, in a vibration-resistant version according to LES-DB of Deutsche Bahn and as a model with front profile(s) according to IEEE 1101.10 from POLYRACK and its distributors.

POLYRACK TECH-GROUP has now developed an ATR system (Air Transportation Rack) for use in harsh mechanical, climatic, chemical and electrical environments. The Rugged MIL 1/2 Short ATR CHassis according to ARINC 404A standard has five 3U slots with OpenVPX profile. This complies with the VITA65 standards and works with a data transfer rate of up to 10 GBit/s. The salt-soldered housing offers a completely sealed environment and supports passive "conductive cooling" by effectively dissipating heat from the board and the power supply unit.

At the InnoTrans trade fair (23-26.09.2014 in Berlin), POLYRACK TECH-GROUP will be presenting its many years of experience and services as a certified manufacturer of enclosure solutions and panel PCs for HMI / MMI applications in Hall 2.1, Stand 411. All products in the display are specially developed and designed for the requirements of traffic and rail technology.