Boston Mattheus launches new extrusion line for the automotive industry

The line is capable of producing fuel lines in accordance with the known automotive industry standards including tube structures, tolerances and polymers (PA, PVDF, PBT, ETFE, EVOH, etc.).

Accuracy, energy-efficient & low maintenance

As the company states, its Advanced Screw Design, AC Vector and Direct-Drive technology ensure precision accuracy and maximum energy efficiency at all times as well as providing a clean extrusion operation with maintenance reduced to a minimum.

Precision accurate and easy to adjust Vacuum Calibration and Cooling Systems ensure the tube is produced to the exact tolerance specification required and with a high quality surface finish. AC Flux Vector Caterpillar Haul-Off and Servo-Cutting ensure precision accurate, clean, swarfless cut lengths are continuously produced. If the fuel lines are required to be coiled then a choice of Semi-Automatic and Fully Automatic Winding Systems are available to meet the exact requirements of the production operation.

Understanding the pressures faced by today's manufacturers Boston Matthews have designed the line so that any routine maintenance required can be quickly and easily undertaken by the operator without the need for dedicated maintenance personnel. This not only reduces (and in some cases) eliminates the need for dedicated maintenance personnel it ensures the line is only out of production for a minimum amount of time. 

New Die Head Technology for production flexibility

According to Boston Matthews, its Helix Die Head Technology has many essential advantages over 'alternative' die head design including the ability to produce mono and multi-layer fuel lines on the same line without any disruption and therefore allowing the manufacturer to benefit from complete production flexibility. Material change over or die head cleaning is very fast and non-complex and can be undertaken completely in-house and therefore remains under the complete control of the fuel line manufacturer.

Tube Quality Management & Traceability

Automatic Laser Diameter Control Measuring System further ensures tube specification is always adhered to as well as providing assistance during line start-up.

Complete PLC control through the SMART system is also available with the Automotive Fuel Line. The SMART colour touch-screen control system allows for simple line operation and quick start-up as well as providing essential tools for the tube manufacturer's management Password protection ensures line settings and production security is always controlled and maintained. Production data, including all process variables is fully accessible and transferable through a variety of means including Ethernet and modem. This allows for production data to be used for product quality analysis, traceability and efficiency reports. Simon Brookes states "The Smart control system provides the manufacturer with the means to control the extrusion operation as well as the ability to access a large amount of data if required."

About the company

For more than 50 years Boston Matthews has been at the forefront of extrusion machinery technology. As the Inventors of the Caterpillar Take-Up (Puller) Boston Matthews has earned a place in the coveted US Plastics Hall Of Fame. Boston Matthews is a global company that supports in excess of 35,000 machines in over 70 countries. Head Offices and manufacturing facilities are based in Worcester, England which are further supported by facilities in Coral Springs, Florida, USA and Shanghai, China.