Innovation, efficiency and automation are focus for Engel in Asia

Engel says that rising pressure to reduce costs for injection moulders in Asia has resulted in a focus on innovation, efficiency and automation.

At Chinaplas, Engel says it is addressing these challenges by exhibiting four highly integrated manufacturing cells, which it says combine top performance with maximum energy and material efficiency, while demonstrating that intelligent automation is also beneficial in terms of process technology.

"Automation is increasingly becoming an integrative process that enables extremely economical production processes and guarantees a constant high level of product quality," explained Gero Willmeroth, Sales and Service Manager of Engel Machinery in Shanghai. "With intelligent automation concepts we can clearly increase the competitiveness of our customers. The demand for automated system solutions continues to increase in Asia."

Engel is demonstrating efficient use of automation technology by showing a working Engel duo 900 injection moulding machine with integrated viper 20 linear robot producing automotive oil sumps using the MuCell foam injection process.

Its other exhibits include an Engel e-motion 30 TL with a clamping force of 300 kN, producing optical lenses for mobile devices, demonstrating high-quality production of small parts often required in the electronic and telecommunication sectors.

For the packaging sector, Engel is demonstrating the production of 500 ml food containers produced on an ENGEL e-motion 440/160 decorated with in-mould labelling (IML). The company says fast cycle times, energy efficiency and a closed system makes the e-motion series ideal for food packaging production.

Finally, for the medical markets, an Engel victory 1350/300 injection moulding machine is producing a polystyrene petri dish with a high level of transparency, optical clarity and a flat bottom. The parts are removed in pairs fully automatically, fitted together, stacked and prepared for packaging, a process compatible with the requirements of a cleanroom.

For the first time in Asia, Engel is also presenting its new generation of control units, the CC 300,said to simplify complex processes.

"We're setting a new trend with the CC 300," explained Willmeroth. "The control unit of the manufacturing cell has long since become an important factor in efficiency. With our new CC 300 we can support our clients in maximising the full potential of integrated system solutions while increasing process safety at the same time, even when the level of qualifications of the employees are low.”