Led by the HEIA-FR via the iRAP Institute, in partnership with seven Swiss industrial companies, VacuMold aims to improve the quality and productivity of injecting thermoplasts, elastomers and ceramics, while meeting the growing requirements for precision and reliability in sectors such as watchmaking, medical, automotive and even microtechnology.
The major innovation of the project is based on the integration of an “ejector valve” system, an intelligent component that makes it possible to reach a high level of vacuum directly in the mold cavity, well beyond the performances of current systems on the market. This optimized degassing improves the filling of the molds, reduces defects (burrs, burns, air bubbles, welding lines) and extends the life of the molds by limiting their fouling.
Thanks to this solution, VacuMold allows:
The consortium associates HEIA-Fr/IRAP with companies Casutt & Co, ETA, Johnson Electric, Mestel, Redel, SPT Roth and WAGO. Each partner brings its specific use cases to test the solution on various materials (technical thermoplasts, FKM elastomers, PEEK, PPSU, injected ceramics). This diversity guarantees the relevance of the results and the rapid transfer to industry.
Planned between July 2025 and March 2027, the VacuMold project is part of a logic of process innovation at the service of industry 4.0, by integrating vacuum sensors to control the process in real time. It contributes to industrial sustainability by reducing production waste, maintenance operations and raw material consumption.
VacuMold is supported by the Swiss Plastics Cluster and the New Regional Policy of the Canton of Fribourg. It paves the way for a new generation of intelligent and efficient molds, adapted to the challenges of the Swiss industry.
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