New design revolutionizes injection mold cooling for quicker cycle times while lowering material tool costs

Alpharetta, GA, Oct. 9, 2007 – Midwest Mold Services, Inc. announced the release of a new water baffle created entirely out of Amodel polypthalamide (PPA) made by Solvay Advanced Polymers. Used in the mold itself, the revolutionary baffle promotes uniform flow of the cooling liquid via a propriety channel design delivering faster cycle times. Made from high-performance Amodel PPA, the baffle is less expensive than traditional brass models which continue to increase in price as metal prices soar.

“Advances in injection molding typically revolve around the molding process,” explained Brian Finkel, Vice President of Midwest Mold. “When we looked at the process at a deeper level, we realized that there could be major efficiencies realized by optimizing the components used in the construction of the tool itself, as much as in the process. The feedback and response from our trial customers has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Midwest Mold focused on the critical performance aspects of the flow of cooling fluids within a mold. Baffles are used in the core of a part mold to help direct and channel cooling liquid – typically water or oil – that cools a part and allows it to be removed from the mold. The goal is to increase heat transfer in order to decrease the time it takes between shots. Inducing turbulence in the cooling liquid is the key to improving heat transfer. The new baffle’s design not only allows for more turbulence, it also seals tightly within the core. This ensures uniform flow of liquid within the core resulting in uniform cooling of the part.

“Having Solvay Advanced Polymers as a partner was critical for realizing the vision of this part,” Finkel continued. “In addition to their material knowledge, they helped us work through the processing challenges of creating a baffle that would meet our design criteria. It’s the technical knowledge as well as the material knowledge Solvay supplies that makes them such a valuable partner.”

Amodel PPA is the perfect choice for the new baffle design as it performs exceptionally well in high heat environments. In addition, it maintains its outstanding stiffness and other mechanical properties at elevated temperatures over time, which is essential for a part that must be screwed into place enabling snug seating within the mold. The Amodel PPA baffle comes in standard sizes and lengths that are designed to be cut to length with ordinary shears. This eliminates the costly secondary operations associated with traditional brass baffles that must be cut to size, and require soldering of screw threads for use in the core. The new water baffle from Midwest Mold is available through global tooling parts supplier, DME.

About Midwest Mold Services, Inc.
Founded in 1994, Midwest Mold supplies parts and services to industrial manufacturers and molders around the world. From building new tools, to repairing old ones, Midwest Mold is a recognized leader in engineering solutions for the molding industry.

About Solvay Advanced Polymers
Solvay Advanced Polymers produces more plastics with more performance than any other company in the world. This gives design engineers worldwide more ways to solve top design challenges in automotive, medical, electronics, aerospace and other demanding industries. Solvay is an international chemical and pharmaceutical Group with headquarters in Brussels.  Its companies employ some 29,000 people in 50 countries.  In 2006, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 9.4 billion, generated by its three sectors of activity:  Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals.  Solvay (Euronext : SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR) is listed on the Euronext stock exchange in  Brussels.