Taylor Engineering & Plastics (TEP) is expanding its processing capabilities by ordering two 1200-ton short-stroke top-pushing compression molding presses from Cannon. The new machines are intended to enable entry into additional market segments and to offer existing customers a broader choice of manufacturing technologies, while strengthening the company’s position as one of the most versatile molding facilities in Europe. The presses will make it possible to produce large, durable and complex components in medium and high volumes, complementing the existing process portfolio and generating additional demand for in-house painting and finishing operations for customers in the automotive, electric vehicle, agricultural and earth-moving machinery sectors.
The investment is part of TEP’s development strategy focused on increasing the range of molding processes offered and serving more demanding industrial applications. With the new presses, the company aims to strengthen its position as a supplier of complete solutions, covering both part production and finishing operations. The introduction of short-stroke compression molding technology is expected to improve production efficiency and increase flexibility in the selection of thermoset and thermoplastic materials used in complex components for many industries.
Significant investment and development of TEP’s offering
According to Taylor Engineering & Plastics, the purchase of Cannon presses is a key step in expanding the company’s production capabilities. Scott Taylor, managing director at TEP, emphasizes the importance of this project both in terms of market diversification and strengthening the long-standing cooperation with the machinery supplier.
"This is a landmark investment for Taylor Engineering & Plastics and a major step forward in expanding our manufacturing capabilities" said Scott Taylor, managing director at TEP. "The new Cannon presses will allow us to support new market sectors, including transport infrastructure, rail and construction, while giving our existing customers even more process choice with a single trusted supplier. Our relationship with Cannon dates back nearly five decades, with the companies working together since 1977. This latest project strengthens that partnership, with Cannon once again providing custom-engineered machinery specifically designed to meet TEP’s exact production requirements."
With the new presses, TEP will be able to handle projects that require high clamping force, high repeatability and precise process parameter control. This is particularly important for large-scale and geometrically complex components, where process stability and part quality translate directly into the requirements of end users in sectors with high technical standards.
Cannon short-stroke presses and their design concept
Cannon has more than 60 years of experience in hydraulic press engineering and over 35 years of specialization in high-tonnage short-stroke presses. The company has been one of the pioneers of this technology since the early 1990s, and subsequently expanded its portfolio with top-pushing designs in which the working stroke is applied from above. Today, Cannon is the only manufacturer on the market to offer all three short-stroke press concepts, enabling selection of the most suitable solution for specific applications and production line layouts.
According to the manufacturer, a key feature of Cannon short-stroke presses is appropriate structural stiffness and high guiding accuracy, which have a direct impact on part quality. Enrico Schinelli, sales manager composites at Cannon Ergos, highlights that the machines are designed for high flexibility and short cycle times in series production.
"Our short-stroke presses are engineered to guarantee proper stiffness and good precision, features that have a direct effect on part quality" said Enrico Schinelli, sales manager composites at Cannon Ergos. "They are specifically designed for high flexibility and short cycle times for mass production. Tilting and shuttle tables allow for fast and proper operations on the mold, while automated loading and unloading permit shorter open mold times. In addition, our presses are best-in-class with regard to energy consumption, precision parameter control and state-of-the-art parallelism control, and simple integration with robots, dosing units and molds."
Applications for thermoset and thermoplastic materials
Cannon short-stroke presses are designed to process both thermoset and thermoplastic materials. Compared to traditional down-stroke vertical presses used in similar applications, short-stroke designs feature a more compact and efficient structure. This results in lower hydraulic oil requirements, shorter pressure build-up time and a reduced overall machine height.
The manufacturer notes that the presses are fully customizable and available in different configurations, allowing users to select the optimal solution for a specific application, product type or plant layout. The equipment can be supplied with either a single or double shuttle table, enabling improved productivity and reduced changeover and mold exchange time. Thanks to Cannon’s global service network, press users have access to technical support worldwide.
For Taylor Engineering & Plastics, the newly ordered 1200-ton presses will be the largest machines of this type that Cannon has supplied to the UK market to date. They will allow the company to handle larger part formats and more demanding projects, while leveraging TEP’s experience in painting and finishing operations for components used in the automotive, electric vehicle, agricultural, construction and infrastructure sectors.
Cannon’s 1200-ton short-stroke compression molding presses for Taylor Engineering & Plastics will be the largest machines supplied by the company to the UK market to date.
