Kratos Industries from Colorado manufactures large-format control cabinets, among other things, and has grown rapidly over the past five years. But as output increased, so did the requirements for accurate labeling—an issue that was a real challenge for a while. Thanks to a paint protection label solution from Schreiner ProTech, this bottleneck has now been solved.

With its VentingXperience, Schreiner ProTech opened a new chapter for direct customer dialog at the Oberschleissheim location. For a whole day, professional visitors from Automotive, Mobility, and General Industry had the opportunity to experience an event centered on the topic of Pressure Compensation Seals (PCS), showing how modern membrane technology and intelligent fastening solutions enhance safety and performance in challenging applications.

The VentingXperience program offered a wide variety of topics. In compact technical presentations, the specialists from Schreiner ProTech provided information about the basics and functionalities of membrane technology, the diversity of self-adhesive PCS solutions, high-protection variants such as PCS HighProtect, or combined nameplate solutions. The method of ultrasonic welding met with keen interest as well—especially for applications that must do completely without adhesives. Product stations and discussion rounds gave the participants opportunities to discuss specific use cases and to engage in exchanges about project experiences.

The discussions and exchanges showed that the requirements to be met by pressure compensation technology keep growing—not only due to the electrification in vehicle engineering but also due to increasing miniaturization and the demand for longer lifecycles.

 

The exclusive plant tour was one of the highlights of the event. At several stations, the participants had the opportunity to directly observe how Schreiner ProTech develops and produces various PCS solutions. A particularly impressive showcase was the demonstration of how high-tech membranes reliably protect sensitive electronics and what quality assurance actions are taking place in the background.

Adrian Marggraf, Product Manager for Pressure Compensation Seals, was the expert on hand to answer the guests’ questions. Many conversations revealed that exchanges between development partners and customers are particularly important to realize products that are fit for the future.

 

The positive response to the first VentingXperience event reinforces Schreiner ProTech’s motivation to continue offering professional events focused on PCS technologies. In terms of trends like the combination of pressure compensation and functional labels the demand for tailored solutions will keep growing. Consequently, Schreiner ProTech is planning to expand its role as a development partner and to support customers early in the concept stage.

With seven inspection lanes and a daily capacity of 650 vehicles, the facility performs tasks that are comparable with an official vehicle inspection in Germany. The inspection center sets new standards in traffic safety and vehicle management and meets stringent standards according to ARS 1355, the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO).

 

Four Partners, One Solution

The project resulted from a collaboration between MAHA, Applus, DKT Deutsche Kennzeichen Technik GmbH (DKT), and Schreiner PrinTrust (SPR). MAHA supplied the inspection technology, Applus was responsible for quality assurance and inspection processes, and DKT provided the digital platform including app solutions. The basis for reliable vehicle identification is also provided by the RFID/NFC label known as the “third license plate” from Schreiner PrinTrust. Bernhard Gött, CEO of DKT, explained, “With the labels from Schreiner PrinTrust, we securely identify vehicles, thus creating the basis for a smart inspection and tracking system.” Dr. Kai Schnapauff, Director of Schreiner PrinTrust, added, “Our technology with UHF and NFC enables flexible RFID reading on both short and long ranges and can easily be expanded with additional functions in the future.” The label can thus not only be read when entering the inspection facility but also serve additional purposes such as future issuing of driver’s licenses or the administration of taxi permits.

A Project with a Signal Effect

The inspection facility in Zanzibar shows how smart technology and international partnerships can substantially advance traffic safety and digital vehicle management. For Schreiner PrinTrust, it is further proof of how versatile and robust the third license plate can be applied worldwide and what potential it may still be able to tap.

Change at the helm of Technology and Innovation Management (TIM): Dr. Jens Vor der Brüggen, who had been leading Research and Development (R&D) for many years, assumed responsibility for TIM from Robert Weiss this summer. Robert Weiss will support the change during the transition phase as “Senior Management Consultant, Technology Management” and continue to perform key strategic tasks.

“I am delighted about the trust that has been placed in me and about this new challenge,” said Dr. Jens Vor der Brüggen. “Technologically, we have a strong foundation that we intend to jointly develop further. My goal is to systematically drive innovations and to broaden Schreiner Group’s technology base even further.” Dr. Vor der Brüggen joined the company in 2002 and has decisively shaped Schreiner Group’s evolution ever since then.

President and CEO Roland Schreiner emphasized the importance of the new role by stating that “Dr. Jens Vor der Brüggen is an experienced and highly competent expert taking the helm of our Technology and Innovation Management. He has been familiar with Schreiner Group and our technology landscape for more than two decades. I am convinced that he will con­tinue to strengthen our company’s innovative prowess.”

Robert Weiss earned great recognition for his contributions as well. “In the past twelve years, Robert Weiss made Technology and Innovation Management a key driver of our technological evolution,” Roland Schreiner added. “We sincerely thank him for his exceptional commitment and are delighted to be able to continue benefiting from his advisory support.”

Whether hybrid technology (the combination of different printing methods), laser cutting, or sustainable materials—before new manufacturing technologies are adopted for regular production at Schreiner Group they pass through a central testing facility: the company’s in-house pilot plant. The things being developed, tested, and optimized day in day out often stay behind the scenes—but are decisive for the company’s technological progress.

Putting it in a nutshell, “Our job is to break new ground—systematically,” says Dr. Edgar Hecht, Head of the Pilot Plant, “because whether a new technology is technically and economically feasible is a question that cannot be decided on a drawing board. It takes know-how, experience—plus the opportunity to run extensive serial testing under realistic conditions.”

That’s exactly what the pilot plant provides: This is where new technologies such as hybrid printing using UV inkjet inks are intensively tested—long before being rolled out on the factory floor. In that way, Schreiner Group has been able to draw on detailed knowledge of ink systems, varnishes, materials, and process parameters. “Extensive trial programs would not be possible in the production environment,” Hecht explains. “Operations would have to be shut down for that purpose—while we can perform flexible and profound analyses.”

The pilot plant is far more than an in-house test laboratory. It’s a strategic innovation partner forging links between research, development, and the shop floor. Whether it’s creating printed protective structures for robust RFID application or pre-qualifying new inks or varnishes—often with a view of changed legal requirements—the pilot plant provides valid bases for decisions for the next stage. Currently, sustainability plays a key role as well. New more eco-friendly materials are put through their paces at the pilot plant to systematically reduce the car­bon footprint of products—without sacrificing their quality or performance.

The pilot plant’s particular forte lies in its equipment: Only few high-tech printing com­panies have an equally wide range of technologies and testing opportunities. That’s exactly what external partners value to test and prequalify new technologies. In that way, the pilot plant makes an important contribution to the company’s success—as a reliable scout, experienced tester, and creative enabler.

Whether at our VentingXperience event, in customer conversations, or in exchanges with developers and buyers: Our continuously growing PCS HighProtect product group is in high demand. That’s hardly surprising because the requirements for pressure compensation, protection, and traceability have clearly changed in recent years. Electronic in-vehicle components are subject to extremely high stress—moisture, dust, and mechanical influences call for robust solutions and often raise specific questions. Below, experts from Schreiner ProTech provide practical answers to the most frequently asked customer questions about this special Pressure Compensation Seal.

What distinguishes the HighProtect version from other PCS variants?

This PCS product group is tough. Dust, dirt, water, harmful media—and, due to protection class IPX9K, it even resists high-pressure water jets. Only with proper protection can sensitive electronics or control units reliably function.

Do I have some latitude in terms of size?

No doubt about it! We’ve alread implemented several customized solutions in regular production. The unique design offers much greater flexibility than snap-fit or screw versions. Size, adhesive, and shape can be modified without additional tooling costs.

Is it effective and traceable even in the case of small design spaces?

For this use case, our TTR-printable HighProtect variant is ideally suited, combining a label and Pressure Compensation Seal in one product, which naturally reduces your process steps—with a minimal design height of less than 5 millimeters.

RFID technology keeps developing further. To ensure that Schreiner Group’s customers will continue to benefit from state-of-the-art technology, Schreiner’s LogiData competence center continuously optimizes existing products and makes them fit for the future. Specifically, that means the ground’s been cleared for the UCODE 9 family!

The high-performance UCODE 9 chip family from NXP takes center stage in the current conversion process. However, the previous antenna designs were no longer adequate for tapping the full potential of these new chips. “For optimal results, we implemented newly developed—partly proprietary—antenna designs,” explains Hartmut Wiederrecht from Schreiner’s LogiData competence center. As a result, different variants are now available that are precisely adapted to the properties of the new chips— and they truly pack a punch.

 

Tailored to Suit Any Use Case

The team has developed different sizes and geometries for them that deliver top performance according to their uses and substrates. Whether metallic surfaces (On-Metal), a wide variety of plastics, ESD environments, or glass—the capabilities of the UCODE 9 family can be systematically exploited where they’re needed. Typical examples are applications in manufacturing, logistics, or the sensitive electronics and medical device technology.

The Chip that Thinks for Itself

A central feature of the new chip family is its “self-adjust technology.” When the reader responds it analyzes the signal quality and, for instance, automatically adjusts reception amplification. “As a result, readability remains stable even under changing conditions and read errors are significantly reduced—a clear advantage for process reliability,” Wiederrecht emphasizes. In addition, the higher read and write sensitivity combined with the new antenna designs enables more compact, resource-saving RFID tags and generates new prospects for smart manufacturing and sustainable projects.

 

The newest-generation chips are ideally suited for use in logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and other sectors. The UCODE 9 family creates additional potential for optimizing processes, enhancing efficiency, and reducing costs. Especially use cases such as inventory management, asset tracking, or seamless tracking along the supply chain benefit from that. RFID tags that, thanks to tailored antenna technology, precise material selection, and customized development, are perfectly tailored to their task and enable seamless integration—that’s what Schreiner Group stands for, also with this newest chip generation.

All-in-one often sounds enticing: fewer steps, less effort. Yet sometimes it pays to deliberately split processes. That’s exactly what the team of the Schreiner Services competence center did in the case of an ultrasonic welding unit for Pressure Com­pensation Seals (PCS). An approach that noticeably enhances stability and process reliability.

In the case of many applications, the sonotrode must do not just one but two jobs in terms of ultrasonic welding of membranes: It first cuts out the membrane and then welds it onto the component. That means it must have sharp edges, which makes it prone to wear. This results in several potential sources of defects, which poses a risk especially in the case of large volumes.

That’s exactly where the new solution comes into play: It deliberately splits the previous process into two steps by using pre-cut membranes. At Schreiner Group, that step is performed on high-performance cutting machines in regular production. “In that case, the sonotrode can focus on its primary task: precise welding in a reliable process. Without the additional cutting function, its geometry remains stable and its service life clearly longer. The result is a robust, durable process with far less failure potential,” explained Michael Reineke, Head of the Services competence center.

Automatic Precision Dispensing

Another advantage of the new unit is automated handling of the Pressure Compensation Seal. While in other assembly processes involving ultrasonic welding the membranes often need to be positioned manually, a precision dispensing system takes care of that in this case. It guides the pre-cut membranes automatically and precisely underneath the sonotrode. That enhances repeat accuracy, reduces operator effort, and minimizes the risk of positioning errors in the current process.

 

In addition, an airflow measurement unit is directly integrated in the system. Immediately after manufacturing, it checks if the Pressure Compensation Seal reliably performs its job. Together with the sonotrode that needs to do only one job anymore and the automated “travel” of the membranes this has resulted in a solution that constantly guarantees high component quality and process reliability.

Guilloches are some of the oldest security features in printing—and even so, are very current. The delicate, interlaced line patterns have their origins in the 17th century and are still an integral component of high-end security solutions today. Schreiner ProSecure has now raised them to a new level: with an extensive design catalog, an internal design guide, and many customizable design options.

Time-Tested Technology—Reimagined

Guilloches deliver compelling performance as an anti-counterfeiting feature particularly due to their design diversity, elegance, and resulting recognition value. The complex, mathematically generated lines pose a true challenge to scanners and printers. Unauthorized reproduction results in visible blurs or moiré effects—a clear indication of tampering attempts. Especially in the case of closure seals, guilloches are frequently positioned along the edge of the cardboard packaging to make unauthorized opening and resealing more difficult.

Flexibility in Every Detail

Guilloches are more than a security feature—they’re also a design element with countless variation options. That’s exactly where Schreiner ProSecure’s new offering comes into play: A comprehensive catalog of examples offers many fully created, sophisticated guilloche designs serving as the basis for customized solutions. The catalog is complemented by a design guide that systematically explains all design parameters—from the shape of the outer contours to the alignment, density and thickness of the lines, and the integration of microtext.

 

Tailored to Suit Any Application

Thanks to this preliminary work, the design phase of customized guilloches in new projects can be significantly shortened—without sacrificing the level of security or freedom of design. Together with the respective customer of the business units, a desired design is selected, modified, and optimized for the relevant application and printing technology.

Customers profit from Schreiner Group’s decades of experience with security features using sophisticated printing technologies—and can rely on top quality and functionality, no matter what printing technology is used.

Volker, no automobile is on the road without one and it has been patented now for over 70 years. Why are airbags, alongside seat belts, still deemed to be one the most important in-vehicle safety devices?

The seat belt of course is THE central restraint system in the event of a head-on collision but the airbag ultimately ensures that the head and torso won’t crash against the steering wheel. It supports the head and, as a result, relieves the load acting on the nape. In addition, it enlarges the survival space because it pushes the driver away from the steering wheel to some extent. Knee airbags absorb the load acting on the legs and prevent us from slipping out under the seat belt. In case of a side impact, the airbag becomes even more important because the belt offers only minimal protection there. Head and side airbags position themselves between the occupants and the vehicle’s side and distribute the forces to dampen the impact. There are even center airbags deploying between the driver and front seat passenger so that they won’t injure each other.

Now, as head of vehicle safety at ADAC, you’re close to the subject. How has airbag technology continued to evolve in recent years and what innovations have occurred in that area?

In the 1980s the driver’s front airbag was still optional equipment in luxury cars. Today, it’s standard, even in mid-range cars, and in recent years, airbags have become better and better: they’re no longer deployed as aggressively as they used to and have tethers so that they won’t hit the driver in the face. Today, there are various airbags such as side, knee, or window airbags that can even protect occupants in the event of a rollover. The latest developments are headed in the direction of individually adapting airbags to the occupant. Via sensors the system knows if someone is tall, short, heavy, or light, and adjusts the hardness of the airbag accordingly.

Addressing the technical aspects: what role does the combination of airbags with other occupant protection systems like seat belts and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) play in terms of optimal protection? 

Obviously, it would be ideal if accidents didn’t happen in the first place. ADAS can make quite a bit of a difference here by avoiding collisions or at least reducing speed. However, if a crash does occur seat belts and airbags are indispensable for protecting occupants. The combination of active safety due to ADAS and passive safety by means of airbags and belts provides the best protection. Some systems can take actions even before an impact such as putting the driver into the optimal seating position.

How is the reliability of airbags ensured across a vehicle’s lifetime?

During the development stage airbag manufacturers pay attention to the longevity of the systems even in extreme temperatures. Airbags used to have an expiration date. That’s no longer the case today. Tests have shown that airbags deliver perfect performance even after more than ten years. The filling may slightly decrease but the effect of that in an accident is minimal.

Are there any areas in which there’s a need to change safety systems, like for autonomous driving? What innovations are you expecting in the coming years?

Efforts are underway to adjust restraint systems to the seating position and the occupant even more effectively. Sensors inside the cabin can detect how someone is sitting and adjust the system accordingly. Should an airbag inflict more damage in the event of an accident (e.g., when feet are resting on the instrument panel) deployment might even be prevented. For autonomous driving, we need completely different restraint systems that work also when occupants change their seating position, for instance by turning or lying down. Certainly, there are some exciting developments in sight.  

Occupant Protection Made by Schreiner ProTech