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Metal-plastic hybrids - high-performance combinations

Inserts, outserts and reel-to-reel

Only a few years ago, plastics and metals competed as materials: plastics are usually cheaper, lighter, more chemically resistant, freer to shape and electrically insulating, while metals impressed with their ductile material behaviour, electrical and thermal conductivity and high level of surface hardness. However, energy and resource efficiency, economical lightweight construction and functional integrations are optimally implemented by combining the materials. At OKE we manufacture components for structural applications in the automotive sector, for electrical engineering and electronics applications, for locking systems and medical engineering.

When it comes to metal-plastic hybrids, our Schröder and Alhorn sites, with their experience in the automotive and electrical industries, are the experts of the OKE Group. While Alhorn also supplies the electronics industry with complex connectors, Schröder is also a supplier of visible parts for medical engineering. At KKF in Goslar, we also integrate various metal components into large vehicle parts.

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Metal meets plastic - efficient, precise and safe

Our processes for metal-plastic hybrids

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Smaller inserts are usually automatically inserted into the injection mold and overmolded. We often use screw sleeves, but we also use our own stamped parts as inserts.

In outsert technology, we create a larger stamped metal part to which we add functional elements by injection molding. Part of our product portfolio is then assembled (semi-)automatically into small assemblies.

In the reel-to-reel process, we feed our punching strips directly from a reel to the injection molding tool. After the plastic elements have been added, we wind the punched strip back onto the reel. We can also integrate upstream and downstream cutting and bending processes into this process. We use this very efficient but not frequently used technology for large product series.

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Punching

We are familiar with both material classes and have our own unit for stamping with press forces of up to 400 tons. We support our customers right from the initial design stage and consider the entire value chain of both material classes.

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Tools and equipment

Together with our own toolmaking and mechanical engineering department, we develop tooling and system technologies suitable for series production, even for complex process combinations and automations.

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Availability

Many of our customers benefit from our worldwide logistics. With twelve production sites in Europe, Asia, Brazil and South Africa, as well as a network of wholesalers and service points, we are there for them worldwide.

Exploit synergy effects

Metal-plastic hybrids

Metal-plastic hybrids are popular across all industries. Today, around 60 percent of all metal stampings are directly or indirectly joined with plastic. And there are good reasons for this! Intelligent metal-plastic hybrids are created by taking into account value-adding ideas or following a precise analysis of the potential for added value, and our customers benefit from this:

  • Combination of different material advantages in one workpiece
  • Local setting of features
  • Loadable connection of partial elements
  • Higher strengths with greater functional diversity
  • Application of electrical and thermal conductive structures
  • Weight reduction
  • Efficient series production
  • Reduction/elimination of assemblies
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Our competence centers for hybrid technologies

Wilhelm Schröder

Metal-plastic hybrids mainly for vehicles, household electronics, locking and medical engineering are produced at Schröder. Punched parts as inserts and outserts are also produced here directly on site.

KKF Fels

KKF is our centre of expertise for plastic components in the automotive industry. Our main focus in Goslar is on multi-component parts with inserts as well as large components and assemblies.

Contact The fastest way to us

Do you have general questions about OKE, our services, our technologies or references? Let us know what we can do for you. We will forward the message directly to one of our specialists for your request.

OKE Group GmbH
Nobelstraße 7
48477 Hörstel
Germany

Phone: +49 5459 914-0
info@oke-group.com

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Key data

OKE worldwide

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1.800

Employees

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10

countries worldwide

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16

Sole proprietorship

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274

million euros revenue

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>200

Injection molding machines

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185

Extrusion lines

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own

Mechanical engineering

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highest

Quality of processes and productshighest