EuroWire November 2014

News Technology

The INF-2 is a new concept pail packer, designed by Gimax, for the process of packing wire into drums. The INF-2 is a ‘fully packaged system’ in the sense that the only separate entity from the main body is the driven pay-off – both the dancer and the electrical control cabinet have been incorporated into the main body resulting in an enormous reduction in space occupancy (and height), and subsequently in costs for the end user. The unit does not follow the traditional method of raising and lowering the drum during the packing process. The drum and flyer both rotate, but the INF-2 makes use of an innovative process in which the front portion of the unit itself slowly rises while the flyer is layering the wire within the drum. The entire flyer assembly is of totally new design and concept, a different philosophy to traditional methods. The pail packer can handle various drum types (round, hexagonal, octagonal) and various sizes ranging from small New concept for packing wire into drums Durable welds in just seconds

100kg up to the traditional 350kg drums of MIG wire, and also up to the large 500kg drums as the unit can handle drums with or without a central core. The unit is already set up as standard with a base that can handle both round and square drums. Size changeover is minimal. The unit is equipped with wire straighteners, capstan and vibrator to settle the wire in the drum and comes complete with an operator platform which raises and lowers with the machine so that all parts of the unit are easily accessible for maintenance and for threading the wire through the system. The INF-2 can also be equipped with an optional video-cam system that allows the operator to check the inside of the drum as well as other parts of the line while the unit is in operation. Gimax Srl – Italy Website : www.gimaxgroup.com

to the welding surface, while the line of force is directly over the parts to be welded, precise, dependable, solid-state and highly conductive welds are created without bending stress or stalling. This ultrasonic system is also the only one capable of providing one-pulse welding of most oxidised and tinned metals without pre-cleaning. The SonoWeld® 1600 and dual head spot welders use outputs of 1,500 and 2,500 watts to weld non-ferrous similar or dissimilar assemblies, including copper to aluminium. Both have a power supply with a built-in microprocessor that features automatic frequency control, overload protection, and storage and recall of up to 250 weld protocols. The units also have digital displays that allow weld control to be selected by time, energy, or distance. Easily removed and replaceable heat-treated steel taper lock tips can perform up to 100,000 welds. Like all Sonobond equipment, the spot welders require only minimal training for operation. To ensure that manufacturers get the spot welder that is appropriate for their particular applications and requirements, Sonobond offers a free ultrasonic welding viability test. Potential customers provide their materials to Sonobond for no-cost, no-obligation sample welds. The company’s assistance does not end there. If its equipment is incorporated into the customer’s production process, service and technical support is available before, during and after installation.

layers of copper or aluminium foil in just one pulse. Both machines provide a fast, efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to weld multiple layers and/or delicate foils to tabs or terminals. They also can accommodate battery pouch assembly and HV termination welding.” “The use of batteries in all-electric and hybrid automobiles, as well as in advanced utility and renewable energy storage, medical technology, military applications and telecommunications is expanding,” added Ms Alleman. Sonobond’s spot welders create durable bonds in a single operation that takes only seconds and employs no heat, current, fluxes or filler and produces no arcs, sparks or fumes. Instead, the units use Sonobond’s unique, patented Wedge-Reed bonding system that combines high vibratory force and low amplitude coupling.

The capabilities of the SonoWeld® 1600 and dual head spot welders were the focus of Sonobond Ultrasonics’ display at the 2014 Battery Show in Detroit, Michigan, USA. “Our units require no consumables and use lower vibration amplitude than competitors’ ultrasonic equipment to weld foils as thin as seven microns without tearing,” said vice president Melissa Alleman. “Our dual head spot welder is the first ultrasonic welder that can join up to 100

By utilising sheer mode vibration parallel

▼ ▼ Sonobond’s SonoWeld® 1600 digital ultrasonic spot welder is used in the assembly of lithium-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. The machine creates durable welds in just seconds

Sonobond Ultrasonics – USA Website : www.sonobondultrasonics.com

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November 2014