ENGIMICS based in Novazzone, Ticino, Switzerland, is using powder injection moulding to produce highly complex silicon oxide ceramic cores which are then used in the production of high temperature turbine blades for gas turbines in power generation as well as aircraft jet engines.

A key process step in the production of the turbine blades is the inclusion of cooling channels inside the blades, and this is where the CIM cores manufactured by ENGIMICS come into play. ENGIMICS was founded in Ticino in 2005 and uses an Arburg ALLROUNDER 630C with a clamping force of 2,500 kN to injection mould the silicon oxide cores in a single cavity mould.

The ceramic cores can be up to 700 mm long and

2,000 g in weight. The injection unit cylinder is made from high chromium PM steel to aid wear resistance, and the screw is made from a PM hardened steel.