Tek Pak, Inc. Adds New Laser for Trimming
New 400-watt laser will enable Tek Pak to offer enhanced trimming capabilities for light-gauge thermoformed parts and packages for the electronics, medical, industrial, and consumer markets
St. Charles, IL — Tek Pak, Inc. has installed a new 400 watt CO2 laser at its St. Charles location to complement its existing 100 watt laser. In addition to providing more capacity, the new 400 watt laser has a maximum field of view of 350 mm x 350 mm which will enable Tek Pak to laser trim larger and thicker thermoformed parts and packaging.
For several years, Tek Pak has utilized its 100 watt laser for prototyping and production of difficult-to-trim products. Laser trimming is especially beneficial in the prototyping stage of a program because changes can be made quickly and inexpensively without modifying hard tooling. "A main advantage of laser trimming is that complexity is basically free. The magic is in the software. A complicated trim pattern with intricate features that would be difficult or impossible for mechanical trim tooling to accomplish is readily achievable with a laser," said Scott Carter, Tek Pak's VP of R&D.
Both lasers at Tek Pak function with similar high-precision scan heads to achieve rapid and accurate trimming, drilling and scoring patterns. Because of the speed at which these lasers operate medium- to high-volume production rates are possible, so laser trimming is not necessarily just a prototyping tool. The existing 100 watt laser was under-powered for many applications, so the addition of the 400 watt will enable Tek Pak to offer greatly enhanced trimming capabilities for both prototyping and production.
About Tek Pak, Inc.
Tek Pak was founded in 1992 to provide custom carrier tape for the cell phone market. Originally occupying 6,000 ft2 at its Batavia, IL location, the Company now occupies 27,000 ft2 in their Batavia location, nearly 11,000 ft2 in St. Charles, IL, 2,500 ft2 in San Jose, CA, and a sales/engineering office in Orebro, Sweden. While the original product, carrier tape for the electronics industry, is still a significant portion of Tek Pak's business, the Company now provides complete thermoforming solutions including part design, prototyping, tooling, tool repair, short-to-long-run thermoform production, laser trimming, production development services and precision thermoforming of engineering films. Tek Pak serves the electronics, medical, industrial, food, and retail markets.
For more information on Tek Pak's products:
http://www.tekpak.com
