Moldsonics is a spin-off project of the Institute of Polymer Injection Molding and Process Automation at JKU Linz. The three JKU graduates and founders of MoldSonics Bernhard Praher, Klaus Straka and Thomas Mitterlehner are an interdisciplinary team of plastics engineers, mechatronics engineers and measurement engineers with the aim of transferring state-of-the-art measurement methods from research to industrial applications. The focal points are divided into the two main processing methods in the plastics industry. These are the injection molding process and the extrusion process. Customized process solutions are offered for both areas. Specifically, the company manufactures ultrasonic-based sensor systems, which are installed in the respective machines. The use of these highly accurate sensors enables the optimization of the overall process as well as the reduction of plastic waste.
"In addition to the aforementioned 2nd place at the 2017 EDISON Prize, our concepts were previously honored at the 2015 Houskapreis by reaching the finals. However, the really most important success was the acceptance into the Spin-off Fellowship Program of the FFG and the BMBWF, which was newly launched in 2018."
INTERVIEW WITH JKU ABSOLVENT THOMAS MITTERLEHNER
How did the idea and concept for MoldSonics come about? At the Institute of Polymer Injection Molding and Process Automation, we have been working on ultrasound-based measurement technology for more than 10 years now in order to better understand plastics processing operations or to test and observe individual elements of the processing machines in operation. It became clear to us relatively quickly that these methods, which were developed purely for research and development, could also have great potential for industrial use. Initial ideas for the product concept and its commercialization were submitted to the 2017 EDISON Ideas Competition and awarded the silver prize in the technology-oriented idea category. This was certainly the initial spark for further serious considerations in the direction of a spin-off.
What exactly does your start-up do and what is special about your business idea?
Most plastics processing machines have two things in common: High pressures and high temperatures. We're talking about pressures up to several thousand bar and temperatures up to 350 °C. In order to measure properties such as pressure and temperature in these ranges, direct contact with the plastic melt is usually necessary. However, our patented ultrasonic sensor technology does not require direct contact with the melt, which clearly sets us apart from the current sensor market. At the respective measuring position, our sensors send ultrasonic pulses - through several centimeters of steel - in the direction of the plastic, and from the reflections we can then determine not only pressure and temperature but also the wear status of individual elements in the machine.
What has been your biggest success so far?
In addition to the aforementioned 2nd place at the EDISON Prize 2017, our concepts were previously honored at the Houskapreis 2015 by reaching the finals. However, the really most important success was being accepted into the Spin-off Fellowship Program of the FFG and the BMBWF, which was newly launched in 2018. Here we were able to spend 18 months, with a sufficiently high level of funding, developing our prototypes and refining the business idea or strategy. At the beginning of this year, we were able to record another special success with our acceptance into the tech2b Pre-Scale-up.
What are the next steps and when will the product be on the market?
We are currently in the middle of the founding phase of the GmbH. This means that we are drawing up contracts, further refining our business model and fine-tuning our public image. The tech2b mentoring is proving to be very helpful here, since all three founders are rather technically versed and we sometimes lack a view of the economic aspects. In parallel, we are in constant exchange with our pilot customers to prepare our products for market entry, which is planned for the end of 2021.
... click here for the full issue of Kepler Society Magazine: Career News - April 2021 issue.
... here you can find our products: Products Moldsonics
Source: https://www.jku.at/jku-alumni/kooperationen/weitere-moeglichkeiten/karrierenews/
