Page 49 - Plastics News Issue October 2025
P. 49
COMPANY NEWS
forced with continuous carbon fiber tapes, the bling large molds to run on comparatively small-
handlebar reaches maximum strength at mini- er machines.
mal weight with a cycle time of just one minute.
Fully automated, the process opens the door for
plastics to replace metals in applications requir- This design eliminates tie-bars, allowing unob-
ing durability and safety. structed mold access and better support for
large-volume core pulls. The result is faster mold
Sustainability: Smarter Use of Materials changes, smaller footprints, and lower invest-
ment costs. Cycle times can be as fast as 23
Sustainability is now a baseline requirement seconds, with automation—including dual easix
across industries, and ENGEL is proving how cir- robots—seamlessly handling downstream tasks
cularity and efficiency can go hand in hand. such as seal insertion.
On the all-electric e-mac 220 with 2,200 kN By simplifying the clamping unit while maximizing
clamping force, ENGEL demonstrates the use of performance, ENGEL is driving a trend toward
100% post-consumer recyclate (PCR) to produce more flexible and efficient technical molding.
foamed construction blocks. An optimized mix-
ing screw ensures homogeneity, while iQ weight Digital Intelligence: Toward Self-Optimizing
control plus automatically adjusts switchover Machines
points and pressure curves to reduce scrap by
up to 50%. The resulting blocks are up to 30% As production grows more complex, digital intel-
lighter and 10% stronger—ideal for pallets and as ligence is becoming essential. With inject AI, EN-
substitutes for concrete components. GEL is taking its inject 4.0 program to the next
level, integrating artificial intelligence into many
In thin-walled packaging, ENGEL is addressing new and existing products. This marks a major
regulatory and consumer demand for recycled step toward self-optimizing machines.
materials. On the e-motion 420 with 4,200 kN
clamping force, yoghurt cups are produced us- One core feature is the iQ process observer,
ing 30% recycled PET (rPET) and 70% virgin ma- which monitors up to 1,000 parameters per shot,
terial in a 6+6 stack mold. Through a combina- detects deviations in real time, and provides AI-
tion of injection compression molding, iQ motion driven correction suggestions. By continuously
control, and iQ weight control plus, the process learning from all connected machines, the sys-
delivers thin-walled cups with excellent repeat- tem improves quality, efficiency, and scrap re-
ability and minimal material use. Importantly, the duction across entire production networks.
application complies with the EU Packaging and
Packaging Waste Directive 2030 and illustrates ENGEL is also integrating AI into its e-connect
a viable alternative to thermoforming, eliminat- portal. With machine-specific guidance available
ing trimming waste and upstream film produc- 24/7 in multiple languages, operators can quick-
tion. ly troubleshoot and minimize downtime.
Technical Molding: Efficiency Through Tie- Crucially, ENGEL emphasizes that AI comple-
bar-less Design ments, not replaces, human expertise. Adaptive
assistance systems reduce operator workload,
The challenge of producing large, complex stabilize processes, and help bridge the skilled
molds often comes down to space and energy labor gap—bringing the industry closer to the vi-
costs. ENGEL’s next generation of victory elec- sion of fully self-regulating production.
tric tie-bar-less machines addresses this by ena- Source – Plastics News
October 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 49
