Bent River Machine has developed three off-the-shelf panel laminators which can be custom modified to meet specific customer needs. The purpose of this product line is to provide a development and low volume production tool in the solar panel and flat panel industries. With flat panel capabilities expanding daily, Bent Rivers goal is to aid in the solution that brings the cost of production in line with the power generation.
Herald Harrington, owner Bent River Machine, explained, "We were approached by multiple organizations and asked where they could get their hands on a laminator for running test and R&D laminations. We looked into this and discovered that there was an unmet need for a high quality research and mid range production laminators. We knew Bent River could fill that void by offering an affordable product that produces commercial quality laminations. Universities, R&D labs and even short run manufacturers can benefit from these products."
The Bent River line of panel laminators are completely customizable in size or can ship off-the-shelf in three sizes, 28" x 28, 28" x 60" and 50" x 80". Every laminator has a computerized control system designed to allow experimentation with different processes variables temperature control, dwell times, vacuum profiles and pressure control. When a desired variable combination has been created, the system can operate in production mode where it will run the same production recipe repeatedly.
All Bent River Laminators are lifting pin system laminators. Lifting pin laminators have an array of pins that raise up out of the heated lower platen. These pins hold the panel away from the heated platen allowing the system to achieve a good vacuum and extract all the air from the panel prior to exposing the panel to the higher temperatures where panel bonding begins. When all air is removed from the process chamber, the pins retract bringing the panel in contact with the heated lower platen. This raises the panel temperature causing the EVA or other hot melt layers to bond the panel layer together.
Bent River Laminators are currently in the market and actively being used for both solar panel lamination and flat panel development and design.
http://www.bent-river.com/the-bent-river-machine-line-of-panel-laminators/
