German Machinery and Technology •
Gneuss, which has established its Multi Rotation System extruder for processing PET reclaim without pre-drying, will show the SFpvc, the latest addition of screen changers for PVC. It is characterised by the adaptability to match the individual extruder and robust drive system to handle contamination surges. This model has proven itself in recycling of PVC plastic windows.
Injection Moulding Machinery • Arburg will launch its Freeformer for additive manufacturing for the Asian market. It will demonstrate the potential of plastic Freeforming for functional parts as one-off items or in multivariant small-volume batches, manufactured from standard granulate based on 3D CAD data, without a mould. The company says it can achieve far more than a simple 3D printer. The granulate is first melted in a plasticising cylinder. The second discharge unit can be used to produce multi-component/colour parts. One Freeformer will combine a TPU material with a special supporting material – a first in additive manufacturing. Possible applications include bellows, hoses, sleeves, or flexible parts for robotic grippers. The supporting structures can subsequently be removed in a water bath. Last year, the Freeformer received the internationally renowned Red Dot Award for industrial design, next to top brands such as Apple, Audi and Adidas. Arburg demonstrated the process for the first time at the Fakuma 2014 (Germany) producing an office scissors with individualised lettering. Arburg will also present the hybrid Allrounder 570H designed for thinwall packaging applications. A 2+2-cavity stack mould is used
Arburg will present a medical technology application, in which prefillable syringe barrels made from COP are manufactured as a substitute for glass
for the IML application, which compared to a conventional four-cavity mould, permits the use of a smaller machine. It will produce four 200 ml margarine tubs in a cycle time of around 3.2 seconds. The automated process is performed by a two-axis robotic system. It inserts two so-called butterfly labels on both the fixed and moving mould platens and removes the finished parts from the central block. It will also display an electric Allrounder 470E demonstrating the production of prefillable syringe barrels made of COP (cyclic olefin polymer), which is transparent and has similar barrier properties to glass, but almost unbreakable and more costefficient. In a subsequent step, the syringe barrels can be pre-filled, assembled and packaged ready for use. The Multilift Select robotic system from Arburg is used to remove the barrels.
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Boy will be showing its 60E that is equipped with a servo motor pump drive, similar to the E-series, boasting up to 50% energy savings. It will be shown making thinwall ABS caskets, each consisting of two under parts and upper parts in a 2+2-family mould in 5 seconds. A 22A at the South Chinese distributor Trillion Machinery is equipped with a cantilevered clamping unit for accessibility for automation equipment or other devices.
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Having reworked its CX small machine series (35-160 tonnes), KraussMaffei Technologies will show a new CXV 160 at its booth. The company says it uses 10% less energy, is 15% faster, 30% quieter, with the oil volume reduced by 20%, and 25% more efficient. With automation and faster set-up times, it has 100% added value for the customer, says the firm. Additional highlights include the new sprue picker, the ejector coupling and the BluePower Vario Drive concept.
Blow Moulding Machinery • Kautex Maschinenbau will be showing a KB25 suction blow moulding machine that has been modernised at its Shunde plant. Used for manufacturing air ducts, it has been fitted with a 1.8 l high-temperature accumulator head, a low-wear E60 extruder and a full suction blow moulder. Some 25% of Kautex's turnover is generated by its range of servicing programmes, including retrofitting. This is now possible at Kautex’s plant in Shunde, opened 20 years ago, which in 1995 became the first German joint venture to be set up in the southern region of Guangdong. MAY 2015
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