E-Archive

Articles

in Vol. 27 - July Issue - Year 2026

Macro-finishing at Room Temperature

Before – After: The new macrofinishing machine MF-15L from C.S.I. Centro Servizi Industriali automatically removes runner and overflow flashing from injection moulded elastomer parts

The feeder belt conveys the raw moulded parts into the processing container

The storage container of the system has a capacity of 200 liters

The raw parts are batchwise filled into the container

Before – After: Cable feedthroughs before (left) and after (right) processing

In the three-stage separation section, O-rings and other moulded parts are separated from gating and overflow material

In the Spotlight

C.S.I. Centro Servizi Industriali was founded in 2021 by Stefano Ferrari and Danilo Olivini. Marcello Plebani and Dieter Adamkiewicz, also experts in the field of rubber and plastics technology, joined the company in 2023. C.S.I. provides a broad range of services for customers in the rubber and plastics industry, from surface treatments and finishing services to the performance of special laboratory analyses. The company’s comprehensive range of surface-coating equipment includes a plasma plant for pretreatment processes as well as five Rotamat coaters and one parylene coating system for O-rings and other moulded parts. C.S.I.’s laboratory equipment includes systems for residual dirt analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, and coating thickness measurements. C.S.I. represents the German companies Walther Trowal in the field of surface finishing systems and Zeiss in the field of measuring systems for elastomer analysis. C.S.I.’s facilities at the location in Bolgare in the Italian province of Bergamo are operated by ten employees. In addition to finishing services, the company also provides maintenance services for equipment of AW Maschinen- & Anlagentechnik GmbH.

The new macrofinishing machine MF-15L from C.S.I. Centro Servizi Industriali removes runner and overflow flashing from injection moulded elastomer parts in an automated process that does not require any prior cooling of the parts in liquid nitrogen. This process reduces energy consumption, thus making a significant contribution to the protection of the environment and cutting production costs.

In injection moulding of elastomer products, such as O-rings and other moulded parts, it used to be common practice to remove the flashing forming along the parting line and the gates either manually or in a classical blasting process in a tumbler under cryogenic conditions.

With its new MF-15 macrofinishing system, C.S.I. has now automated this process. The system works without liquid hydrogen, markedly reducing the finishing effort. It replaces manual deflashing and eliminates the cryogenic flash removal process.

The modular system operates automatically and largely autonomously. After placing one or several raw moulded parts on a feeder belt, no more manual activity is involved: When the parts leave the system, they are separated and virtually free from remaining gating material and coarse flash.

From the feeder belt, the raw parts are batchwise charged into the processing container. The rotating, studded bottom of the container causes the material to mix intensely, resulting in the moulded parts being separated from the gating material. At the same time, coarse flash and excess material are also removed.

The process is complete after about 20 to 40 seconds, and the parts and the removed flash and gating material are ready to be separated in the downstream sieving section. Any remaining minor flashes are removed – like with the manual or cryogenic process – in a second step using mass finishing or nitrogen deflashing.

Dieter Adamkiewicz, Managing Partner of C.S.I., explains: “The MF-15L needs only electricity to operate, approx. 5 to 8 kW. Thus, the new system reduces not only the process costs, but also the impact on the environment because it saves the production and consumption of nitrogen and polycarbonate blasting media. This also has a direct positive effect on our customers’ carbon footprint.”

The new system has already proved highly successful at one of C.S.I.’s customers. Mario Vollbehr, Managing Director of Bode GmbH, located in Henstedt-Ulzburg, Germany, states: “The benefits of the MF-15L have proved to be compelling. The relatively low investment has paid back fast. Reason for us to expand this technology further.”

For Information:

C.S.I. Centro Servizi Industriali

Stefano Ferrari, Managing Director

Via Lago d’Idro 8, Bolgare BG, Italy

Tel. +39.035.0390938

E-mail: info@csi-servizi.it

www.csi-servizi.it