Frequently Asked Questions...

 

LM2050 (above) LA500 (below)

The Airtect Plastic Leak Alarm System The Airtect Plastic Leak Alarm System is increasingly being deployed by quality moulders in order to save on maintenance costs, safeguard "lights out" production, and to maximize annual uptime. Principle of Operation The Airtect System is designed to quickly detect plastic leaks and reduce damage to tools and/or equipment. Narrow copper tubes carrying tiny volumes of air are fitted close to the nozzle tip and/or inside the mould to potential leak sites. When a leak begins, the restriction in airflow is quickly detected by sensitive pressure sensors. The system offers a range of programmable interlock options allowing for instant or delayed injection cycle stop and/or audible and visual alarm only. Two Control / Display units are available: the LA500 (LED Display) and the LM2050 (LCD Full Text Display).

Constant Protection	Once installed, the Airtect System will detect any leak soon after it begins deep inside the hot runner mould (and/or at the nozzle).
Increased Revenues	Airtect promotes maximum annual uptime, and so ensures increased output and increased revenues.
Insurance Policy	Insure your process against the inconvenience and damage of mould leaks. Install Airtect and your leak worries are over.
Rapid Payback	Airtect is a low-cost investment which will pay for itself as soon as the first leak is detected.
Safeguard Client Relationships	Downtime can be critical - late deliveries can mean lost contracts.
Peace of Mind- around the clock	Using the Airtect System means you can confidently leave your facility under minimal supervision through the night and at weekends. Airtect is your "lights-out" supervisor.
Simple Installation	Airtect comes with easy-to-follow instructions for trouble-free, same day deployment.
Significant Savings	Dramatically reduce your clean-up and repair costs-labour, replacement parts etc.

1 What do Airtect Systems do?
2 How does the AIRTECT Plastic Leak Alarm System work?
3 Can AIRTECT Systems be fitted to existing moulds?
4 Are AIRTECT Systems easy to install?
5 How fast is the financial payback?

What do Airtect Systems do?
They detect plastic leaks as soon as they start, either at the nozzle/sprue bush interface or deep inside hot runner moulds. A new leak will trigger the selected alarm and/or shutdown response while the display indicates the location of the problem. (If circumstances require, a bypass feature can allow moulding to continue at the discretion of authorized personnel while the Airtect System continues to monitor the progression of the leak) back to the top

How does the Airtect System work?
The patented principle of operation involves the use of a constant but tiny flow of air which is fed through flexible copper tubes (3mm in diameter). The tubes are fitted to potential leak sites. For the problem of leaks at the nozzle, the copper tube is fitted along the barrel under the heater bands ending about 40mm away form the nozzle tip. For hot runner moulds, multiple tubes are fitted inside the mould at the time of manufacture or during routine maintenance. The tubes are usually laid in the existing channels used by the heater cables. They are terminated at areas of the mould where leaks are most likely to occur. Externally the copper tubes are all connected to the Airtect Mould Manifold which is mounted on the side of the mould and connected by a communications cable to the Controller mounted on the injection moulding machine. (The standard Airtect manifold unit provides 8 detection zones, with larger 16 zone manifolds available if required.) As soon as a leak begins, the flow of air through the relevant tube is restricted and the change in air pressure is detected. The system then triggers whatever alarm and/or shutdown response has been selected. back to the top

Can Airtect Systems be fitted to existing moulds?
Yes. Any mould can be fitted with Airtect, usually in a half day. All that is required are the appropriate channels to bring the small bore copper tubes (diameter: 3 mm) to the critical areas of the mould. Normally the existing wiring channels for the heaters can be used, but in some cases it may be necessary to machine these channels slightly bigger or to machine special channels. It will be obvious to you or your toolmaker what the best solution should be. Once you understand the basic principle you will be able decide the best approach for your particular mould. back to the top

Are Airtect Systems easy to install?
Yes. Every day moulders and their toolmakers who have never previously used Airtect fit the system for the first time. Typically, a new mould is fitted with an Airtect System in half a day. We provide all the necessary fittings together with a simple user-friendly installation guide. back to the top

How fast is the financial payback?
The Airtect Plastic Leak Alarm System costs less than the cost of the replacement parts for one single leak. The cost of plastic leaks and mould leaks in particular is very high, and not only consists of the obvious cleaning, repairing and spare parts costs, but also, and more importantly, includes costs for production downtime, lost profit contribution and penalties for late delivery. Therefore Airtect is, above all, an insurance. The system gives you peace of mind and makes you a more reliable business partner for your customers as well as saving you money and protecting your profits. back to the top