executive view

Kistler Instrument Corporation's Technology Plans for the Plastics Market

By Gerald D. Lisowski, Managing Director, Kistler Instrument Corporation, USA

After contemplating several topics of discussion for this forum, I opted to address how Kistler plans to remain competitive in the 21st century and beyond. This commentary is especially pertinent since Kistler has been doing significant planning to continue its growth pattern that we experienced in the 20th century. These strategies can be categorized in three key areas:

• We will cross-pollinate technologies that we have developed for specific applications in unique markets to other markets we serve.
• We will partner with world class leaders as demonstrated by our recently completed agreement with Moldflow.
• We will acquire companies that have a synergistic fit with our strategic growth markets.

The following text explains how Kistler is realizing these strategies and I will explain how our strategic initiatives are being used to help the plastics community.

Overview of Kistler Instrument Corporation

Kistler Instrument Corporation is a worldwide company that specializes in pressure, force, and acceleration products based on quartz piezoelectric sensor technology. We are viewed as a leader in markets that need the very best instrumentation to get the most out of specific testing and/or production processes. Hence, our logo includes the words "measure, analyze, and innovate." Some of the markets we serve include engine pressure testing, acceleration, and manufacturing and plastic process optimization.

Technology advancements to be introduced to the plastics market

In the field of engines, our customers ask us for better instrumentation so that they can measure higher pressures and temperatures inside the engine combustion chamber. We have responded to this demand by growing a new proprietary crystal called Piezostar^®.

We believe that this crystal will be of benefit to the plastic community as the temperatures and pressures that molders use to produce parts continue to increase. We recognize this trend not only in injection molding, but also in extrusion and die casting areas.

In the field of manufacturing, we have a number of products that can control and monitor a wide variety of production processes involving force, pressure, or acceleration. We have used this technology to help manufacturers in many types of forming, clinching, welding, and riveting processes.

We believe these controllers will be of benefit in the plastics community as many of the secondary operations on plastic parts involve similar process parameters. We have one application in which a pen manufacturer is using our process controller to determine when they have a generated a "good pen" by monitoring the forces needed to insert the plastic tube into the ballpoint pen. In another application, we are assisting a medical manufacturer to reduce scrap and increase yield by helping them join two plastic parts together correctly the first time.

In the field of acceleration, Kistler has taken a leadership role in "plug and play" smart sensor technology. In fact, as a show of our commitment in this area, one of our engineers is the secretary of an IEEE group that is determining the standards on what will be "read" from each sensor or actuator equipped with a transducer electronic data sheet (TEDS). These sensors and actuators will all be connected on a network so they can be polled for information.

We believe that this technology will play an important role in the plastics community. We will be able to bring "smart technology" to cavity sensing and hydraulic pressure sensing. For electric machines, we can include this technology in nozzle sensors. Once these "smart sensors" are tied into simulation, the operator can quickly and efficiently diagnose a problem or do preventative maintenance.

Cooperation with world-class leaders

Kistler and Moldflow have been working towards a formal relationship during the past two years. It became apparent to both organizations that the plastics industry wanted to realize the benefits of both of our respective technologies. However, plastics customers did not want to worry about the interface between our sensors and charge amplifiers to the Moldflow platform. The first step in ensuring that both companies could achieve the goals we established was to work together on a non-formal basis. We worked side-by-side installing both of our technologies on some plant-wide installations. The results for our customers were nothing short of outstanding. The time we spent during the non-formal stage of our relationship proved we had a winning formula that would help the plastic community in its quest to improve yield, reduce scrap, and slash cycle time. This is the reason that we formally announced our relationship in the US at the 2003 NPE event.

Acquisitions

Over the past two years, Kistler acquired two vehicle wheel measurement companies. These companies utilize strain gauge measuring principles in lieu of piezoelectric technology. The strain gauge technology employed in these wheels is far superior to the normal strain technology that is available on the open market. We are in the process of determining what, if any, benefit this technology can have in other markets, such as plastics, that we serve.

Conclusion

At Kistler, we believe that there is no single recipe for growth in any market in the 21st century. Rather, it will take a number of strategies that are closely bundled together to compete for market share. We always will focus on helping our customers solve their most perplexing problems. Finally, strategies are important. The execution of the strategy is even more important than the strategy itself. The single most essential ingredient of success is to delight your customers in whatever endeavor you undertake.

Kistler is one of the world's leading suppliers of measurement technology. Kistler sensors use the piezoelectric effect to measure pressure, force and acceleration. To find out more about Kistler, go to www.kistler.com.