Laser converting delivers a manufacturing Solution for TPMS

Laser-converting allows for automated assembly, high repeatability, and small intricate shapes

When major tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) manufacturer approached Argent’s Design Team with a unique manufacturing challenge, we knew exactly how to meet their needs.

Their designers wanted to employ 3M™’s high-performance acrylic foam tape as a gasket, but previous attempts by other converters had failed to produce the quality and repeatability their application required. They had an urgent choice to make: re-design or re-source. Argent’s industry reputation as an innovative Solution provider in self-adhesive materials brought them to our door.

Our customer’s innovative design featured many exacting manufacturing requirements. The tiny gasket (12 x 7mm) featured a wall thickness little greater than 2mm, a size which was largely considered not feasible through conventional rotary web-converting, as were their requested tolerances, as small as 0.2mm.

With plans for spool-fed, high-speed automated assembly, our customer also had challenging part delivery requirements. To enable precise transfer of the AFT gasket to their substrate, they also required critical part to part spacing and part to release liner orientation.

Argent’s Design Team understood that these exacting manufacturing requirements made laser web-converting the ideal and only feasible method of manufacture. As a pioneer in laser manufacturing processes for acrylic foam tape, and many other self-adhesive products, Argent’s manufacturing expertise provided a viable Solution manufacturing over six million gaskets per year.

Some of the benefits laser web-converting

Greater part design freedom with increased capability:

1. smaller dimensions
2. more intricate shapes
3. narrower wall thicknesses
4. tighter tolerances
5. greater repeatability
6. solve most attachment challenges

Increased manufacturing process design flexibility:

1. tool-free design changes
2. kerf width control
3. greater part-to-part spacing options
4. increased choices in method of part supply

For more information about Argent’s diverse manufacturing capabilities, please visit our services section. For more information about Argents specialty-cut products, please visit our specialty-cut product features section.