ACE Awards - Process Innovation

Process Innovation
Sponsored by AOC and Composites One

This award is presented to the entry that is manufactured by the most innovative production method resulting in increased production rate and volume while maintaining quality.

Entry: John Deere Air Scoop

Submitted by: Plastics Unlimited, Inc.; Preston, Iowa

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The air scoop fits on a back of a combine used to harvest crops such as soybeans and corn. The part is made from a new process called TEC (Tooless Engineered Composites). This process is Patent Pending. A thin skin is thermoformed on a standard thermoformed tool. The skin is about 0.090 in. thick and is then placed in a simple holding fixture where it is backed with composites using a vacuum bag type system. The system is unique because it combines the best of a thermoformed and composites properties with the cost of a composite tool. High impact resistance, strength, and molded in color that does not require painting. The process time can be equivalent to the thermoform process of several parts an hour.