An International Experience at the FERROMATIK LOUNGE for K 2013

Ferromatik Milacron will present four system designs featuring flexible injection molding machines in the modular F-Series along with two all-electric machines from the popular ELEKTRON series.

“Enjoyed around the world” is the theme for injection molding machine manufacturer Ferromatik Milacron at K 2013 in Dusseldorf which runs from October 16 through 23, 2013. The international experience extends not only beyond the cuisine at the FERROMATIK LOUNGE (Hall 15, booth C06). Machines from Ferromatik Milacron at Mold-Masters and DME booths, both of which are part of the Milacron group, also underscore the international theme.

The modular F-Series is focused on packaging technologies, including In-Mold-Labeling, barrier injection and cube technology
The modular F-Series, ranging in size from 500 to 6,500 kN, can be configured as an all-electric, hydraulic, or hybrid machine, depending on the user’s manufacturing requirements. At K 2013 visitors will see an all-electric F 200 with a clamping force of 2,000 kN equipped with a size 50 Advanced Performance (APe) electric injection unit. Using a 4-cavity mold and an IML system by H. Müller from Switzerland, this machine will demonstrate production of thin-walled rectangular lids with labeling. Every 3.1 s, four lids with labels weighing 8.2 g are produced. The lids are taken out of the mold laterally, monitored by a vision system for quality, stacked and removed. An F 350 hybrid with a clamping force of 3,500 kN is especially notable for its speed. This machine uses a size 70 Advanced Performance (APh) hydraulic injection unit. Driving a 64-cavity mold by Corvaglia (Switzerland), the machine will produce 33 mm beverage closures with a part weight of 2.6 g every 4.5 s. Quality is monitored by a vision system from IMD Vista (Switzerland) with good/bad part separation at the machine.

The third machine in the F-Series at the Ferromatik Milacron both is an all-electric 2,700 kN cube molding machine, the F 270 CUBE. “Bringing the first all-electric cube molding machine to the market demonstrates our leadership role in versatile stack-turning technologies, which we have been continually developing over the past 15 years, said Dr. Thorsten Thümen, Director of Research & Development. The machine has generous tie-bar spacing of 750 x 750 mm. It features an electric rotating mechanism within the machine and an 8+8 cavity cube mold with four sides, both made by German-based Foboha. This machine configuration makes use of an electric General Performance (GPe) size 50 main injection unit as well as an electric GPe 45 traversing injection unit, mounted over the clamping unit on the moving platen. On each parting line of the cube mold, eight pairs of parts – the top and the bottom of a sophisticated two-component twist top – are produced. Following a 90° rotation of the cube mold, the two parts are screwed together by automation on the operator and non-operator sides of the machine and removed via an Air-Move-System made by Trio-technik (Germany). The shot weight in each parting line is 77.6 g, or 9.7 g for each twist top. The cycle time is 9.5 s.

The fourth machine in the modular F-Series will be on display at the Mold-Masters booth (Hall 1, booth A39). Here a 1,600 kN F 160 can be seen, incorporating a hydraulic Advanced Performance (APh) size 45 injection unit in combination with a vertically mounted E-Multi injection unit built by Mold-Masters. Using a 16-cavity mold from F&S Tool (USA), this machine will demonstrate production of closures with two components using barrier injection. The primary injection unit produces the main component while the vertical injection unit produces the core material. The impermeable barrier core material prevents gasses from getting out, and odors from getting into the interior of the part. The 4.3 g closures are produced with a cycle time of 4.2 s. As with the F 350 described above, part quality is monitored with equipment from IMD Vista. “Thanks to active collaboration with our partners, we are presenting four complete production cells around the modular F-Series. These different manufacturing systems demonstrate the range of our applications technology expertise at Ferromatik Milacron,” said Sven Engelmann, Head of Applications & Systems.

A new small machine is the latest addition to the all-electric ELEKTRON series
The ELEKTRON series is marketed globally by Milacron. K 2013 will see the introduction of a new small machine with a clamping force of 300 kN bringing the total number of machines in this series to eleven, ranging from 300 to 5,500 kN. “The new machine hearkens back to decades of successful small machine offerings at our company and marks our return in this segment,” said Ralf Cezanne, Director of Sales & Marketing. The ELEKTRON 30 will feature an international size 55 injection unit and will produce applicators for 1 ml medical ampules on a four-cavity mold made by Braunform (Germany) with a cycle time of 9.1 s, and a part weight of 1.6 g. A second ELEKTRON machine at the DME booth (Hall 1, booth C10) will demonstrate the manufacture of Frisbees. This 500 kN ELEKTRON 50 will use an international size 300 injection unit and a mold by Dauntless Industries (USA) along with a quick change adapter from DME which allows manufacturers to rapidly switch molds for more efficient production.

Enjoy an International Experience at the FERROMATIK LOUNGE
Ferromatik Milacron is part of the Milacron group which has four centers around the world, including Germany, USA, India, and China, where injection molding machines are manufactured. “With the Mold-Masters acquisition, Milacron and its 4,700 employees has a greater global reach than ever and customers will see the first synergies of the larger group at K 2013, said Gerold Schley, Managing Director of Ferromatik Milacron und Vice President of Milacron China. This is evident, both from the presence of Ferromatik Milacron machines at the Mold-Masters and DME booths, and because all six of the machine exhibits are equipped with hot runner controls from Mold-Masters and DME.

Source: Ferromatik Milacron