Haitian, Hennecke partner on in-mold PU coating solutions
Haitian International and Hennecke have entered into a strategic partnership to develop integrated injection molding and in-mold coating (IMC) solutions for the automotive and other industries.
In-mold coating is more efficient and produces lower emissions and more consistent quality than traditional injection molding and post-painting. Haitian has already introduced polyurethane (PU) paint-free turnkey solutions and expanded IMC applications from interior parts to exterior components for the automotive industry.
Haitian and Hennecke will work more closely on system-level integration across design, development, manufacturing and control. The companies aim to improve process accuracy, stability and production efficiency — especially for mass production of large, high-gloss automotive exterior parts and other applications with demanding surface finish requirements.
Founded in 1945, Hennecke specializes in technologies for processing PU, including high-pressure mix heads, precision metering pumps and in-mold coating. The company was acquired by Brückner in 2025.
Haitian recently presented an IMC application for automotive grilles during an open house at its new Global Applications Center in Ningbo, China. The application is built on a PC/ABS + PU material system and is available for molders in the U.S. and Canada from Absolute Haitian.
The solution integrates Haitian’s multi-component technology with PU equipment to deliver precise metering, stable coating thickness and better pressure control, helping reduce defects while improving yield. Optimized molding and coating processes shorten cycle time, improve material use and remove the need for a separate painting workshop. The Hennecke pump system is fully integrated into the Keba controller.
The solution can be adapted for automotive, home appliance and 3C (computer, communication and consumer electronics) applications, with coating effects and automation levels tailored to customer needs.