Founded in 1953, Hyundai Steel is Korea's first steel manufacturer. As a professional steel mill providing automotive materials, the company is developing a new generation of steel grades used in the automotive industry.
Hyundai Steel is also committed to developing materials that make vehicles lighter and safer using state-of-the-art technologies such as TWB (custom welded billets), hydroforming and hot stamping. Recently, the company has partnered with Hyundai Motor Co., Ltd. to make strategic decisions to invest in HP-RTM (High Pressure Resin Transfer Molding) and LCM (Composite Wet Molding) technologies for its R&D labs for the future. The production method of composite materials for mass production of lightweight automobiles.
After conducting direct assessments and comprehensive evaluations of three potential suppliers, Hyundai Steel chose Cannon as its supplier. The comprehensive performance advantages of the Cannon equipment in terms of functionality and flexibility meet the requirements of Hyundai Steel for the development of new composite parts.
Cannon's solutions include:
1. A high-pressure 3-component Cannon E-System Enhanced metering device with two mixing heads for both HP-RTM and LCM impregnation methods.
2. An advanced lamination operating system that allows the carbon fiber laminate to be quickly fed into the press after wet casting of the epoxy resin.
3. A 21-inch capacitive touch screen and computer running the new Cannon Automata HP-RTM-MCS, an advanced control system developed by Cannon Automation to control HP-RTM devices. The system is also equipped with a control toolbox for LCM robots that enables very simple and intuitive trajectory planning. In addition, the Cannon control system is also responsible for the layup line.
4. A set of Cannon HP-RTM molds benefited from the long-term experience of Cannon DMC in mold making.
5. Extensive prototyping, completed by Cannon Ergos at its Italian manufacturing center (a few kilometres north of Milan, Italy) to create a series of composite parts for the prototype.
In short, Cannon's turnkey capabilities in composite manufacturing, including its unique advanced control system, are key to meeting the complex automated forming tasks required by modern steel companies.
