Automotive Applications

The Automotive industry has relied on Flow waterjet cutting and cleaning systems for more than three decades. Virtually every major automobile manufacturer and tier-one supplier has found answers to productivity, safety and environmental concerns with waterjet technology. Major customers include General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Daimler Benz, BMW, Lotus, Hyundai, Leer, JCI, UTA and Collins & Aikman.

UHP waterjets cut a broad range of automotive interior and exterior trim components, including carpets, headliners, bumpers, door and instrument panels, seats, trunk canopies and liners, fairings, composite parts and castings. Used with articulate arm robots, waterjets can be used as a multi-axis, flexible and cost effective process for cutting a variety of materials in the automotive industry. Articulate waterjet cutting systems are easily integrated into the production process. Additionally, they provide ease of use and flexibility that are not within the capability of competitive processes. Articulate waterjet cutting systems increase productivity with a cleaner, safer and more accurate cutting solution, without any heat distortion.

"With tolerances of 0.002" to 0.003" the BENGAL (waterjet) gives us the flexibility in our machining process that we didn't have before. We can now cut an odd shape perimeter, an 8-inch hole in the center, 1-inch triangles with 1/16 radius in corners set around the 8-inch hole all in a 2-inch thick piece of 4130 steel all in one shot. No flipping, turning, or usage of CNC tooling. When we're done, we have an 8-inch round piece of 4130 left in which to make another part."
- Kevin Keys, Elan Precision

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	Flow Waterjet Technology Overview
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