FAQ
General
Matrelec is a French manufacturer specialized in the design of high-frequency and thermal welding machines and automatic lines since 1989. With over 35 years of expertise, we have installed more than 1,000 machines worldwide. Our know-how is based on a high-precision technical approach, combined with customized support for each customer. Thanks to local production in Messimy (near Lyon), we control the entire process, from design to commissioning. Our aim is to offer reliable, high-performance machines that are perfectly adapted to today’s industrial requirements. We operate in a wide range of sectors, including medical, technical textiles and packaging. Each machine is designed to meet the specific needs of our customers.
Our equipment is designed to weld mainly heat-sealable plastic materials such as PVC, PU, PETG, EVA, or certain coated technical fabrics. Depending on the type of weld (high-frequency, thermal or impulse), we select the technologies best suited to the material’s characteristics. Our teams are on hand to help you qualify your materials, to guarantee a reliable, homogeneous weld that meets production requirements. The diversity of the materials we process enables us to address a wide range of applications: medical devices, PPE, technical tarpaulins, blister packs, and so on. We also carry out feasibility tests in our workshops. This approach enables concrete validation before final machine design.
All our machines are entirely designed and manufactured on our premises in Messimy, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. This 100% French manufacturing guarantees perfect control over quality, lead times and technical support. We work with a network of local partners and suppliers, selected for their expertise and reliability. This model of short production runs also enables us to react quickly to both custom projects and maintenance requirements. By favoring local manufacturing, we support the regional economy while ensuring robust, durable machines that meet French and European industrial standards. This choice also ensures complete traceability of every component.
Matrelec designs machines for a wide variety of industrial sectors. Our customers include players in the medical and paramedical sectors, technical textiles, personal protection (PPE), plastic packaging, and automotive and advertising leather goods. Our equipment enables us to produce complex, high-precision welds, adapted to the strict standards of each sector (e.g. medical devices or tamper-proof blister packs). We also support our customers in R&D or innovative projects requiring specific technical adaptations. Thanks to our mastery of welding processes, we can meet the needs of both mass production and specialized unit production. This versatility is a real asset.
We offer both! Matrelec has a complete range of tried-and-tested standard machines, such as the HF Initial, HF Premium and Fleximove models, which cover most industrial requirements. But we’re also experts in custom design, adapting every parameter to your specific constraints: welding dimensions, output, ergonomics, in-line integration, etc. We build modular technical solutions based on reliable, tested building blocks. This hybrid model guarantees performance, safety and adaptability. As a result, our customers benefit from an excellent compromise between controlled deadlines, robustness and customization. Each project is closely monitored to ensure optimum results.
HF (High Frequency) technology
High-frequency welding is a non-contact thermal joining process, using an oscillating electromagnetic field (typically 27.12 MHz) to heat plastic materials from the inside. This technique is particularly effective on “polar” materials such as PVC, PU and certain nylons. Targeted heating enables the surfaces to be joined to be fused with great precision, without damaging adjacent areas. The result is a homogeneous, watertight and highly resistant weld, suitable for critical environments. It’s a fast, clean and mastered technology, used notably in the medical, technical textiles and packaging sectors.
High frequency is effective for welding thermoplastic materials with molecular polarity. The most common are PVC, polyurethane (PU), EVA, PET-G, and certain types of nylon or TPU. Conversely, plastics such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), which are apolar, do not react well to this type of wave. Weld quality also depends on the material’s additives, thickness and surface treatment. We systematically carry out tests in the workshop to validate compatibility before production.
HF welding heats materials from the inside, by means of an electromagnetic field and a dielectric effect. It doesn’t require direct contact with a hot source, so welding is precise, fast and localized. Thermal welding, on the other hand, uses a heating tool (such as a jaw or plate) to directly melt the plastic surface by conduction. HF offers a better, cleaner finish, and is often faster for compatible materials. The choice depends on material type, required precision, part shape and budget.
High-frequency welding offers numerous advantages:
– Solid, homogeneous, leak-proof assembly;
– Excellent repeatability on industrial production runs;
– Ultra-fast temperature rise, ideal for productivity;
– Clean welding without burrs or burns;
– Excellent behavior on complex shapes or contours.
It also enables easy integration into automated lines. It’s a reliable, durable technology that our teams have been mastering for over 30 years.
No, our HF machines are designed to be totally safe and comply with European electromagnetic safety standards (Directive 2014/30/EU). The high-frequency field is contained in shielded enclosures to prevent any leakage. The workstations are equipped with physical protection (covers, curtains, optical safety devices) and presence sensors to prevent any inadvertent activation. What’s more, each machine is tested before delivery to ensure that it is free from parasitic emissions. The user is therefore never exposed to waves. Our teams also train your operators in the safe and controlled use of our machines.
Use and application
Our HF machines can weld a wide variety of flexible and semi-rigid products. These range from plastic blister packs to medical bags, technical textiles, tarpaulins, straps, carpets, industrial curtains and safety packaging. We operate in a wide range of sectors, including medical, automotive, packaging, sports, luxury goods and protection. Thanks to our know-how, we adapt each HF solution to the shape, use and production frequency of your parts. We also carry out tests to ensure compatibility between your product and our technology.
Yes, HF technology enables us to weld complex shapes, including those in relief or with 3D volumes. Thanks to our cutting tools and custom electrode design, we can follow precise contours, integrate curved shapes or include technical areas (valves, handles, eyelets…). Our design office teams create the tooling specific to your products. We adapt the geometry, pressure and HF power to obtain a clean, functional and reproducible finish. This is an ideal solution for technical or design parts.
Absolutely. HF welding enables customized elements to be integrated directly during the welding cycle: embossed logos, decorative inserts, technical data, labels, serial numbering… Certain visual elements can also be embossed or engraved using engraved electrodes. This technique eliminates the need to add elements after the fact, reducing costs and improving the durability of the marking. It is widely used in the luxury goods, sports and medical sectors, to guarantee traceability, visual identity and regulatory compliance.
Yes, our equipment is designed for continuous industrial production, with high output rates and excellent repeatability. Whether it’s for small, medium or large production runs, we have the right solution for you: manual machines for prototyping, semi-automatic machines for short production runs, or fully automated machines for high volumes. Our control systems (pressure switches, cycle times, arc detection, etc.) guarantee consistent welding, with no rejects or defects. We also support our customers in optimizing their workstations and production lines.
Yes, we systematically propose a test bench or feasibility prototype before any commitment is made. This enables us to validate material behavior, weld quality, visual appearance, mechanical strength and cycle times. These tests are carried out in our workshop in Rillieux-la-Pape (Lyon), using your own parts or materials. You receive a full technical report and samples. This process guarantees you a reliable, customized and controlled solution, with no production surprises. It’s a real guarantee of quality and performance.
Maintenance and support
A well-maintained HF machine can easily operate for 15 to 20 years or more. At Matrelec, we design our machines with robust components and welded structures to guarantee their durability. We still come across machines in service that were installed in the 1990s. The key is regular maintenance, the use of original parts, and punctual technical support. If necessary, we can retrofit older machines or bring them up to standard.
Yes, we offer a range of preventive and corrective maintenance contracts, tailored to your production constraints. These contracts include regular visits, checks on critical components, HF adjustments, arc flash prevention, and optimization advice. They help extend the life of your equipment, avoid unplanned production stoppages and maintain CE conformity. Our teams intervene rapidly, anywhere in France, and can also train your staff in first-level maintenance.
We do our utmost to intervene within 24 to 72 hours, depending on your location and the severity of the breakdown. Our technical team based in Rillieux-la-Pape (near Lyon) is trained to work on all generations of Matrelec machines, including older models. We stock a large proportion of common spare parts, which greatly reduces repair times. In the event of an emergency, a hotline is available to guide your team and identify the cause of the problem before moving on.
Yes, we ensure the availability of spare parts for all our machines, even the oldest. We maintain a permanent stock of the most sensitive components (lamps, capacitors, relays, standard electrodes, etc.) and can also produce or adapt specific parts on request. For obsolete models, we offer compatible replacement solutions or upgrade kits. This continuity of service is essential to guarantee the longevity of your investment and keep your production facilities up and running.
Yes, we offer remote technical assistance to help you quickly in case of difficulty. Via telephone, video or photos, we guide your technicians to identify the source of a malfunction or make a precise adjustment. On our new machines, connected interfaces can also enable more detailed remote diagnosis. This assistance is included in our maintenance contracts or available on an ad hoc basis. It avoids unnecessary travel and saves you precious time, especially in the event of production stoppages.
