Page 9 - Plastics News November 2018

FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN

Innovations at Fakuma

s you are aware we have been discussing innovations happening in the industry and for
Athis issue we have two of them, among many, launched at the recently concluded Fakuma
2018. One, Milacrons ThinPAK-Series hot runner for thinwall applications and two, VPower- the
first vertical machine in Wittmann Battenfeld's PowerSeries design of presses.
Milacrons ThinPAK-Series
The ThinPAK hot runner is specifically engineered for high-pressure applications. ThinPAK-Series
nozzles feature a robust gate seal and cutout to withstand the high pressures required for
thinwall packaging molding operations. It has precisely balanced thermal profiles for excellent
process control and the gate seals are serviceable from the parting line. The enhanced gate
features a robust design that incorporates high-strength material and a larger contact area.
Utilizing an enhanced valve disk bushing design any weepage is controlled and directed to easy
to clean areas. This design extends service intervals by up to 3 times, minimizing interruptions
to operations.
ThinPAK stands apart from other Mold-Masters hot runners for its hot runner nozzles, gate seals
and manifold designs. The new innovative nozzle and manifold seal provides greater reliability Mr. Rajiv B.Tolat
even on cold start-up, providing a wider processing window. Also as the company claims, the
new ThinPAK-Series manifolds have been engineered for exceptional strength, certified for
withstanding injection pressures of up to 2,800 bar that happens to be 40% higher than Mold-
Masters standard manifold designs.
VPower -Wittmann Battenfeld's PowerSeries design
VPower is the first vertical machine in Wittmann Battenfeld's PowerSeries design of presses. The
new VPower offers a high level of energy-efficiency, compactness and user-friendliness. The
rotary table is powered by a standard servo-electric drive. The powerful control unit UNILOG
B8 offers numerous possibilities for process monitoring and documentation. Optional, as an
alternative to the standard drive, a direct drive by means of a servo motor is offered, which
allows for simultaneous plasticizing.
This machine series has a smaller footprint than its predecessors and is easy to operate due to
its low and ergonomic working height. Particularly noteworthy is the UNIFORCE compensation
platen system, which ensures a previously unattainable even and wears reducing transmission
of force between the horizontal beams and the mold clamping area. The dry cycle times are
also short for the machine. The injection unit can be converted from vertical to horizontal
and back, even after the press is delivered. Moreover the absence of a middle tie bar enables
central media supply from below through the rotary table, or the installation of a compact
rotary manifold. It's completely open for automation and integration. The open design makes
VPower well-suited for integrating automation systems such as insert feeding or the removal
of finished parts. The flexible VPower R rotary table machine is available with clamping force
sizes from 120 t to 160 t and rotary table diameters of 1300mm and 1600 mm.
I am sure these innovations will help our industry deliver best results!
Rajiv B.Tolat
Hon. Editor
publication@aipma.net

9 November 2018 Plastics News