KootAutomation

Injection molding machines that match the true feeling of vinyl

Ferry Koot from Koot Automation can confirm that the search for a new, more environmentally friendly production method for the LP was not an easy task. "Of course we can achieve the most perfect HD sound quality with today's techniques such as laser, but then the feeling that vinyl brings up is completely gone".

Koot Automation, with 32 employees and specialist in supplying standard and specialist equipment for the plastics industry, is responsible for supplying the injection molding machine and injection molding technology in the Green Vinyl Records project. “A while ago we came into contact with Harm Theunisse of Symcon. Harm was looking for a suitable injection molding machine for the production of a new type of vinyl record. We advised him to choose a machine that fits a good combination of environmentally friendly injection molding and the true feeling of vinyl. This resulted in an injection molding machine that is suitable for producing the CD. " Said Ferry.

Measuring is knowing

Of course we cannot produce vinyl records with an injection molding machine that is suitable for the production of CDs. That is why we have adjusted the machine together with Symcon. Adjusting is one thing, producing a vinyl record, which is normally made with a printing press, the next challenge was to produce by injection molding. “Because measuring and registering is such an important part of developing a new product, we have been closely involved in the development with our knowledge of injection molding machines. By tackling the test spraying together with lecturers and students from Fontys University of Applied Natural Sciences and Symcon, we know exactly what the vinyl record looks like inside and out. Even when we zoom in up to 1600x, we know how high the grooves and mountains are. This ensures a stable and / or improvement of the quality in follow-up productions.

The biggest challenge in the project

The biggest challenge in the Green Vinyl Records project was to try to make the perfect environmentally friendly vinyl record with contemporary injection molding techniques in combination with environmentally-friendly plastics, which still has the feeling and experience. It was already possible to produce vinyl with lasers. Then you get the best of the best HD sound, but there is no feeling. A vinyl record is supposed to crack and rustle.

Ferry Koot: “When we have completed the project, this means that we can supply injection molding machines as complete sets (machine, robots and automation), specifically for the production of vinyl. The vinyl record production methods so far go back up to 50 years, with a lot of manual work as a result. With our solution, the production process runs automatically, we reduce the cost price per record and we deliver better, more environmentally-friendly material. ”