Shanghai, China – Korea's DUT introduced a six-component mix head for automotive components at PU China 2018 and gave an up-date on its plans to make mattresses and sleep products
The mix head was designed because 'some seat and head rests need multi hardness foams,' said Hans Jung of DUT.
'The modified tool features six double-tilted mix zones, which makes it efficient,' he said.
Jung added that it can dispense two types of formulation at the same time. Additionally, he said that the 'output length can be modified to optimise flow for each material.'
The DUT DHV-6KSH mix head is a development of 4K mix heads and these are used by Toyota in Japan.
Separately, Jung confirmed reports from 2017 that the company is developing a sleep products subsidiary. The Korean company has had interest in a production line from a Japanese company. A sample line was expected to be completed in August 2018, he said.
Jung said that sleep products are a logical step for DUT, which has previously concentrated on foaming machinery and mix heads.
'We know how to control PU and the elasticity of foam has to be different at different parts of the mattress. We have developed a process that does not need bonding.'
He said that the company has designed a 200m-long production system with cutting station that is simple to operate.
'Traditional manufacturers of mattresses use our machines. They have to control a lot of parameters. When it is running, the new plant can operate with three people.'
He added that his company has patented the system in China, Japan and Korea
DUT will make mattresses for the bed-in-a-box market and direct-to-consumer segments. 'The market is $40-100bn, globally,' he said.
'Customer feedback is good,' he said. DUT plans to exhibit at a number of mattress shows next year.
Mattresses made by DUT in 2017 can feature up to seven bands of foam with different hardnesses from head to foot.
