Chem-Trend innovation teams with Resin Infusion technology: an idea that holds water!

As with most manufacturers of molded products, productivity means profitability. Boat builders are no different; having long realized the importance of a good mould release. Chem-Trend has been successful in working with manufacturers of marine pleasure craft, partnering to help produce high quality finished parts and streamline their manufacturing processes.

A new process has recently hit the scene in marine manufacturing. Resin Infusion (otherwise known as vacuum infusion) is being used increasingly in the industry and Chem-Trend is on the cutting edge of this new process. This technology essentially uses vacuum pressure to drive resin into a laminate, improving the fiber-to-resin ratio, and results in stronger and lighter products. Not only does this reduce the time required in the manufacturing process but provides for a better overall product compared to traditional vacuum bag or hand lay-up methods.

Chem-Trend New Zealand has been working with many of New Zealand's top boat builders on resin infusion projects. One customer, Sensation Yachts, recently completed the largest composites project using this technology ever undertaken in the world, a multi-million dollar super yacht, measuring 49 meters long and three stories high. This is a significant breakthrough in molding these super vessels, as the traditional process relied on many hours of labor-intensive preparation, which utilized conventional wax based release agents.

New Zealand Sales Manager, John Barnett, worked closely with Sensation Yachts to recommend Chem-Trend's effective and proven Chemlease® brand mold release system, - comprised of Chemlease® Sealer 15 and Chemlease® 75 Release Agent products - that would perform well in this demanding environment. "Given the sheer size of the mold, the risk of pre-release was going to be a potential issue," John Barnett shares. "Add to that the weight of the gel coat, the resin and the core foam, and you have all the ingredients present for a potential problem. We had to develop something special that would help us reduce those risks, while still satisfying the need to get the hull out of that mold defect free. These parts and molds are worth millions of dollars, so a bad part or damaged mold would cost a lot of time and money to repair," says John. He summarized the performance of the ChemleaseŽ brand products on this project by saying, "The ChemleaseŽ system not only took less time to apply than conventional wax-based products, it provided the ideal surface for molding."

The results were evident when Garry Clark, Sensation Yachts Composite Manager stated after the first de-mold, "What can I say? The results speak for themselves! We chose the Chemlease® brand system because when you're building something as big as this, you cannot afford any problems - and it didn't let us down. It worked like a treat!"

Further information from:

Chem-Trend North America
Global Headquarters
1445 W. McPherson Park Drive
P.O. Box 860
Howell, Michigan 48844-0860 US
Tel: +517 546-4520
Facsimile: +517 548-5370