Launchpad is a dedicated space for new machinery and equipment launching into the plastic processing industry.
ENGEL partnership brings more convenience for ancillary solutions
Date: 11 May 2022
ENGEL
What: OPC UA Interface for the integration of machines for mixing and dosing thermoplastic materials on injection moulding machines.
Who: ENGEL Austria and Werner Koch Maschinentechnik
Why: Dosing and mixing units by Koch can be integrated with the CC300 control unit of the ENGEL injection moulding machines via OPC UA and operated via the control panel on the machines. The dosing process is centrally controlled via the machine display, removing the need for the additional control unit. Alerts from the dosing and mixing unit are also output via the CC300 machine panel. As result, dosing becomes a more convenient experience for production employees, and the risk of input errors is reduced.
Target applications: Any application requiring thermoplastics for injection moulding.
Features: Standardised interfaces considerably simplify communication with the production cell independently of the manufacturer.Storing process data together also makes the production batch easier to trace.
New launch: Aqua Pro chiller range
Date: 13th April 2022
What: Aqua Pro, a new range of completely packaged chillers.
Who: Temperature control specialist, Aqua Cooling Ltd.
Why: Aqua Sales Director, Owen Hymers, explained: “We wanted to design a chiller that can stand up to the demands & challenges that the process market faces daily. Yet we also wanted to tackle, head on, the issues around energy consumption and the environment that are impacting us all. Low GWP R454B refrigerant comes as standard, as does completely integrated free cooling. R454B has a GWP rating over 75% lower than R410A, one of the most deployed refrigerants within our industry. The Aqua Pro achieves free cooling at higher ambient temperatures than any of its contemporaries. We have helped customers dramatically cut their energy costs by using free cooling – in some cases by 80%. It’s a real game changer, not just for customers but also the environment.”
Target applications: Process applications (e.g. plastic processing).
Features: The chillers cover cooling capacities from 1kW to MW+, working with process fluid temperatures from -25°C to +20°C. As well as a process specific design, incorporating acoaxial evaporator, the Aqua Pro demonstrates a real commitment to reducing energy costs and carbon impact. The Aqua Pro utilises a 0.7mm thick copper coaxial evaporator, with 8mm water pathways. The larger than normal pathways eliminate any risk of blockage and subsequent evaporator damage. The condenser within the Aqua Pro is 0.4mm thick copper construction, double the industry standard of 0.2mm.