PRODUCT REVIEWS
AIDA, Dallas and HMS at FABTECH Mexico
AIDA-America( a metal stamping press manufacturer), Dallas Industries( a feedline manufacturer) and HMS Products( a press automation manufacturer) demonstrated press, feed and automation technology at FABTECH Mexico 2026( 12-14 May 2026).
Two AIDA presses and a Dallas feeder were on display at the exhibition in Mexico City. An AIDA single-point mechanical press, part of AIDA’ s gapframe press line, was demonstrated. The NC1 models range from 35-250 tons.
“ A few of their standard features include the fastest acting hydraulic overload protection( HOLP) in the industry at 10ms and a highly rigid frame with low angular deflection. [ They also offer the ] tightest clearances available in a gap frame press, which minimize reverse tonnage. An AIDA single-point, direct-drive DSF-C1-A gap frame servo press will run several optimised slidemotion profiles,” explained AIDA.
The company showcased AIDA’ s Allen-Bradley servo control system with standard features including a swing-armmounted, 12-inch, colour touch-screen HMI; optical run buttons for ease of use;
a data bank for 150 job recipes and an integrated tonnage monitor( peak only). It also sports a hand-held, step-feed( CNC handwheel) slide motion control for reduced set-up time and displays actual and virtual crank angles.
“ The DSF-C1-A press was blanking parts with our optimised servo silent blanking stroke motion profile, which can only be achieved on a servo press. DSF-C1-A Series presses are offered in a range of tonnages from 80 to 250,” added AIDA.
A Dallas zig-zag feeder, for material of up to 12 inches wide and 0.165 inches thick, was also demonstrated. It is designed to maximize material usage while minimizing scrap. It features an Allen-Bradley system with built-in material optimisation. Stock moves through this Dallas feeder diagonally via a simultaneous index cycle with cross slide lateral travel, so subsequent strokes form a zig-zag pattern. n
www
. aida-global. com
Left: AIDA gap frame servo press with AIDA’ s Allen- Bradley control.
Below: AIDA gap frame single-point mechanical press.
Below left: A Dallas zig-zag feeder.
Surface pre-treatment with Openair-Plasma
Surface pre-treatment with atmospheric plasma is now widely recognized as an efficient alternative to traditional methods in many coating processes. At PaintExpo 2026, Plasmatreat GmbH present its latest Openair-Plasma technology developments for industrial coating applications. Its focus was on innovations in jet technology, such as the new RD8450 which is designed for the fast, uniform treatment of large surfaces. The product range has also been expanded to include automated plasma applications for the pre-treatment of battery cells.
“ The adhesion of coatings depends crucially upon surface condition. Low surface energy and the presence of release agents, oils or dust can lead to wetting issues and adhesion problems. Therefore, reliable cleaning and activation are the foundation of stable coating processes,” highlighted Plasmatreat.
“ Openair-Plasma pre-treatment generates highly reactive species that remove organic contaminants and create polar functional groups on the surface. Surface energy increases, wettability improves and coating layers adhere reliably. This dry, in-line, flexible process is suitable for targeted areas as well as the entire surface of large components.”
Image: @ Plasmatreat GmbH.
The new RD8450 plasma jet.
Although plasma treatment is used in many areas of the coating process, some manufacturers still rely on flame treatment. Atmospheric plasma offers benefits that address typical challenges in these applications such as lower thermal stress, reproducible surface treatment, safety( no open flame or risk of explosion) and sustainability( no CO₂ emissions and operation using compressed air and electricity).
“ Plasma treatment can be precisely adjusted, reproduced and easily integrated into automated production lines. Integrated quality assurance modules ensure the quality of the plasma treatment,” concluded Plasmatreat.
The manufacturer also showcased various systems and components designed specifically for coating applications, including the new RD8450.
“ This new jet is designed for large-surface components, such as dashboards or hoods,” explained Joachim Schüßler, Plasmatreat’ s global business development manager.“ The rotating jet ensures uniform cleaning and activation across the entire process path, allowing large parts to be pre-treated efficiently.”
Visitors at PaintExpo 2026 experienced plasma treatment live. A Scara robot from Janome pre-treated cylindrical and prismatic battery cells and cleaned metal surfaces, regardless of whether coating or foiling follows. After treatment, visitors could immediately verify the effect of plasma activation.
The Plasmatreat Group has technology centres in Germany; the United States; Canada; China and Japan. It also has a global sales and service network of subsidiaries and partners in over 30 countries. n
www. plasmatreat. com
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