14 July 2015, 08:00
Conventional manual installation of sound damping pads has many benefits. Most notably, the bitumen used is inexpensive and easy to work with. However, increasing levels of automation have led some manufacturers to deploy much more complex systems for material supply and application – required, in particular, for liquid-applied damping. SmartPad is an automated, cost-effective solution for installing sound damping pads. SmartPad combines two functions. Firstly, it contains a material supply system – comprising a loading gantry and a delivery container. Secondly, it features a robot, equipped with a cartridge-loading device and grippers, for installing sound damping pads.
SmartPad is a modular design and a tried-and-tested, end-to-end solution – including the delivery containers, which are supplied directly from the material manufacturer. The modules have been designed for seamless interoperation, minimizing wear and cutting maintenance costs.
Process stability and flexible use
As sound damping pads are available in a variety of types and material compositions, they are tailored to customer-specific requirements. Our partner Faist ChemTec performs customization in its own laboratory, drawing on extensive experience of vibration damping materials. As the pads are manufactured with extremely precise dimensions and consistent thicknesses, production processes are very stable, and reproducibility is high. Moreover, the pads have an attractive look-and-feel. This is important in vans, where they are often visible.
Furthermore, bitumen pads do not release any water in the dryer, and do not absorb any water during the production process, or during actual usage of the vehicle. Therefore, they can be installed in almost any position within the vehicle. Moreover, the pads do not cause blemishing of the paint finish on the exterior of car doors, for example.
Low investment, outstanding cost-effectiveness
Capital expenditure can be cut by up to 25 percent as the majority of components are of proven standard design, and there is no need for a conventional material supply system. Moreover, the commissioning process is significantly accelerated. However, the greatest saving is generated by the lower cost of bitumen pads in comparison with liquidapplied materials. As a result, SmartPad pays for itself within one to two years.