In the early 1980’s a privately
owned injection moulding company based in Tamworth,
England, started the development of a new plastics
processing technology that would, over the next
twenty years, revolutionise the way plastic injection
moulded parts were designed and manufactured.
The process involved injecting a “controlled” quantity
of an inert gas (Nitrogen) under pressure, directly
into a plastic melt, to form continuous “hollow” channels
throughout the part. The process known as “Controlled
Internal Pressure mouldings became the acronym for the company name “CINPRES”
Commercial production of plastic mouldings using
the new CINPRES technology started in 1984 and
one year later the company CINPRES Limited was
formed to commercially develop and license the
technology on a global basis.
In 1992 the former Sales Director of CINPRES Limited
set up a new company, Gas Injection Limited (GIL)
to make the technology more user-friendly from
both a technological and commercial viewpoint.
Over the next nine years both companies continued
to develop specific areas of the technology with
Cinpres concentrating on application development
activities in Europe and the USA and GIL specialising
in the development and manufacture of a
new generation of gas injection equipment specifically
geared to the emerging markets in Asia.
In 2001 both companies were brought together in
a merger following acquisition of GIL by Cinpres’ parent
company BI Group to utilise the “synergy” of
both organisations and create the world’s
market leading company in Gas Assisted Moulding
(GAM) technology.
The new company, led by Managing Director Jon
Butler, has brought together a team of plastics
professionals with over twenty years experience
of the process and with the stated aim of continuously
developing both equipment and process technologies
to ensure that Cinpres Gas Injection Limited offers
its customers the best equipment, service and design
engineering support in the industry.
Phased Pressure Controllers based on state of
the art electro-magnetically operated pressure
regulating valves - to more accurately control
gas injection pressure profiles - have been introduced.
The PPC gas controllers are supported
by an extensive range of Nitrogen GPS- Gas Preparation
Systems - including Nitrogen generation based on
the PSA - Pressure Swing Adsorption - method, and
more recently the Company has introduced a range
of compressors designed for continuous operation
under varying environmental conditions, and with
an ultra low lubricating oil usage. Customers with
just one machine or up to forty machines involved
in gas moulding are being supplied with high-pressure
nitrogen.
After Sales Service
Cinpres offers customers a continuing before and after sales service, including
training in the design of gas mouldings, operation of the equipment and in applying
the process correctly. Cinpres aims to ensure that all of their customers have
the necessary “hands on” initial training and support to ensure
that the technology can be “seamlessly integrated” into a customers’ manufacturing
process with the shortest of learning curves.
GAM Ancillaries
Cinpres offers a full range of ancillaries for
gas moulding, including in-mould and in-nozzle
injectors of gas into the plastic.
Cinpres Distributors and Agents
Cinpres has established
a network of Distributors and Agents outside the
UK, and has established a leading position in
South East Asia, North America and Pacific Rim
countries. Distributors employ engineers trained
by Cinpres to provide a local technical service.
(click for comprehensive
list of names and addresses).
In Germany, Cinpres’ associate, Stieler Kunststoff
Service based in Goslar, offers comprehensive services
to the extensive German moulding industry.
Stieler has developed viable gas cooling methods which
offer substantial benefits for their customers.
Cinpres is now adding other versions of GAM and
other injection moulding processes - together referred
to as 'AIM - Assisted Injection Moulding'.
Cinpres is administered and all equipment manufactured at the company's UK
headquarters based at Prosperity Court, Prosperity Way, Middlewich, Cheshire,
CW10 0GD, United Kingdom.
