18. Sep 2026
Rampf targets faster marine tooling production with PU boards
Rampf will present polyurethane tooling boards containing chemically recycled raw materials alongside epoxy pastes and resin systems for marine composite production at the IBEX exhibition in Tampa, Florida, from Oct. 6–8.
The Raku Tool portfolio includes lightweight, medium- and high-density polyurethane and epoxy boards for producing plugs, moulds, prototypes and master models. Rampf said selected boards contain up to 30% raw-material components obtained through chemical recycling.
Tooling boards are machined to create the patterns and moulds used in composite production. Dimensional stability is particularly important for large marine components such as hulls and decks, where shrinkage or distortion can affect surface quality, component fit and the amount of finishing work required.
According to Rampf, the boards combine dimensional stability and durability with fast machining and finishing. Their relatively low weight is also intended to make large tools easier to handle.
The company will additionally exhibit US-made Raku Tool close-contour epoxy pastes for large patterns and direct tooling. The thixotropic material can be applied in layers up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) thick in a single pass with little or no sag, Rampf said.
The company claims that a 30-foot (9.1 m) hull, deck or stringer-grid plug can be pasted in one day, cured overnight and machined the following day. It compares this with a production time of more than a week for conventional spray-applied materials.
Rampf gives the paste a peak exotherm of approximately 125°F (52°C), which is intended to limit heat-related movement in the underlying structure during the production of large tools. The resulting surface can be used with standard paint and primer systems, removing the need for a separate hot-coating operation.
Target applications include tooling for hulls, decks, consoles and hardtops. Rampf said the paste’s flexural and compressive properties are designed to minimise shrinkage and distortion during use.
The IBEX display will also include epoxy laminating resins, hardeners and infusion systems for composite tools and finished components. These materials offer long processing windows and are intended to provide consistent processing in high-temperature manufacturing environments.
Rampf manufactures the resin systems at its facility in Wixom, Michigan. The company will exhibit at IBEX booth 3-1145.