— By Plasteurope.com correspondent — 

Saudi petrochemical major Sabic (Riyadh; www.sabic.com) has officially launched its Megamolding process, which the firm claims will make the manufacturing of large thermoplastic components much easier.

The Megamolding platform integrates advanced materials, processing technologies, predictive engineering, and tooling to support industrial-scale production of large thermoplastic parts, the company said. It also addresses typical challenges such as clamp tonnage, warpage, uneven cooling, and extended cycle times.

According to Sabic, a key element of the process is the cascade mould flow method, which sequences the filling of material across the mould cavity. This technique can reduce clamp tonnage requirements by up to 50%, allowing much larger parts to be manufactured on standard mid-tonnage machines rather than requiring large, costly presses.

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Megamolding can also incorporate secondary processes like foaming and in-mould coatings, a spokesperson said, adding that converters and OEMs can access the platform through collaboration with Sabic.

According to the company, the technology has been tested in applications such as battery enclosures for electric vehicles. Potential uses also extend to the energy and infrastructure sectors, including the production of large energy storage enclosures, wind turbine components, and structures for power grids.

The construction sector is another potential area of application, including the production of structural panels, roofing elements, and reinforced plastic components. In addition, the process could also be used in manufacturing industrial equipment housings, chemical storage tanks, piping systems, as well as enclosures for appliances, furniture parts, and protective casings for consumer products, Sabic said.