Since the very start, Progressive has been supplying the automotive industry with a wide variety of surface treatment systems. From shot peening, abrasive blasting, to thermal spray coating, Progressive truly understands the demanding production environment at an automotive supplier. Our equipment is ruggedly designed not only for the harsh abrasive environment but the rigors of 24/7/365 production. Our expertise with automation is frequently utilized by our automotive customers as the demand for reduction in labor content increases. Below are just a few examples of our typical automotive applications.
Progressive automotive applications
Gear peening
Precision automated deburring system
High production rotary index for shot blast cleaning
Thermal spray coating piston rings Mahle
Automotive transmission, differential, and steering gears have been peened for years to extend their life and improve the amount of force they can transmit. Progressive has built hundreds of gear peening systems throughout their history. These are designed and built with features that produce rugged construction, low maintenance cost, and high level of process efficiency.
Small, precision parts that require deburring can be processed in rotary index style machines from Progressive. After machining or grinding operations, small burrs can be removed by abrasive blasting. Even cross drilled holes are successfully cleared of burrs. Whether manually loaded, or automatically loaded, these rotary index machines can process hundreds of parts per hour.
Die cast aluminum parts often require a surface treatment to blend all surfaces after machining. Tool marks, burrs, parting lines, and flashing are cleared and blended using shot blast processing. Progressive high production rotary index machines fit this need perfectly.
Piston rings for internal combustion engines receive many types of coatings. Often, these are applied with a thermal spray coating system. Progressive makes a high production rotary index machine specifically for piston ring coatings. An arbor full of rings is loaded on the front side of the machine, and then sprayed on the inside. The process can include bond-coat, top-coat applications, and in-situ process cooling. Robotics or simple one-axis manipulators are used to control the application rate of the sprayed coating.