Persico To Offer Fully Automated Rotational Molding Equipment Through American Strategic Partners.

Nembro, Italy (February, 2007) – in the spirit of Christopher Colombo disembarking for the new world, 2007 marks Persico S.p.A.’s launch of their automated rotational molding equipment (Leonardo) to the American market through two U.S. based strategic partners. Persico has formed an agreement with Lakeland Mold Company, Brainerd, MN who will be providing sales support and customer service of the Leonardo moulds and KOOPS, Inc., Holland, MI to provide service after sales and technical support of the equipment. KOOPS, Inc. has worked with the Persico Automotive Division for many years providing production, installation and support of presses and compression moulding lines. Design and production of both the molds and equipment will remain in Italy while the U.S. strategic partners will provide sales support, programming and service.

“Persico has enjoyed an excellent long-term relationship with both Koops and Lakeland.” stated Claudia Persico, Director of the Rotational Division. “It was important that our U.S. partners possess the same values and commitment to customer support as we do at Persico. We are selling a turnkey solution from initial design to the final molded part which requires excellent communication of information and technical support throughout the entire process.”

Persico is the first manufacturer to offer a standard, fully automated rotational moulding machine, the Leonardo. Leonardo is now used by rotomolders across Europe and also Australia to manufacture a variety of products including water tanks, fire extinguisher cabinets, fenders and kayaks, toys, pallets, roofs and other rotational products. Leonardo is designed for flexibility in molding a variety of products with a simple interchange of molds/spiders.

The success of Leonardo in Europe and Australia is due to the many benefits that the molders have experienced from automation.
Here below the main advantages:
1. No operator
2. Highest product quality
3. Energy consumption reduction
4. Possibility to mold new materials (other than PE)
5. Competitive investment compared to traditional rotational machines
6. Employee health and safety issues

1. By replacing the operator required in traditional molding machines with the latest automation technologies, the labor related costs are eliminated including wages, benefits, workers compensation, law suits, training, employee turnover and product loss due to employee error. Leonardo is capable of running 24 hours per day, seven days a week without any of the human relation issues that can arise from absenteeism to injuries. In Europe, automation has had a huge impact on improving health and safety of employees in rotomolding facilities.

2. Product quality and consistency is no longer dependant on the operator. The machine directly controls the curing and heating cycles based on the internal temperature. The air inside is continuously monitored providing consistency from the first to the last part. This precise control allows for the molding of advanced materials that are not possible with traditional equipment. Uniform heating and cooling has resulted in material savings, lower part weights, shorter cycles, uniform shrinkage and reduced part deformation. Part consistency is no longer affected by the changes in ambient temperature. Each part is perfectly cured and cooling cycles are optimized to be the shortest possible while maintaining the product’s dimensional integrity. In addition, Persico has also developed a patented venting mechanism that eliminates blow holes at the parting line.

3. Leonardo is the most efficient process available today providing higher output per mold and reduced energy consumption. In a traditional oven, only 10% of the hot air influences the mold and only 2% the raw material in the mold. Leonardo does not require the floor space of a traditional machine since heating, cooling, loading and unloading all take place in the same area. Start-up of a Leonardo machine is very fast.

4. The Leonardo machine can mold materials previously abandoned by traditional rotational molding. By providing a clean and insulated working area, it is possible to mould polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, nylon, ABS, SAN, elastomeric materials and so on.
Leonardo is superior to traditional machines providing the ability to mold 2 or more layers of material without influence on the molding process.

5. Each machine is custom engineered to meet the requirements of the customer, the pieces to be molded and the particular material therefore pricing fluctuates based on features. Each product that has been converted from traditional to automated molding has experienced material, labor, scrap product and energy cost savings sufficient to provide a quick return on investment.

6. The greatest long-term benefit of Leonardo is the improved health and safety of employees who work in rotomolding facilities. With Leonardo, processing takes place in a safe, clean, quiet and cool environment. As the U.S. governing bodies look closer at indoor air quality in manufacturing facilities, health concerns due to emanations from coatings, exhaust fumes and materials particularly when running cross-linked resins are reduced by not having an employee in direct contact with the machine. The potential for injuries from molds, cranes and repetitive or strenuous movement are also eliminated. Statistics from a NASA report shows that when in-plant temperatures rise over 85۫ F, people generated output drops by 18% and errors increase by 40%, errors that can increase the chance for injuries due to carelessness.

Leonardo is changing the future of rotational molding. With domestic sales, service and support of Leonardo, Persico is poised to expand into the American market. For additional information or quotation requests, readers may visit the Persico website www.persico.com or contact Persico at info@persico.com telephone 0039 035 4531811