6700 guests from over 50 countries – once again the Technology Days, held from March 15 to 18, 2017 at Arburg, confirmed the company’s strategy. Roughly 50 exhibits were on display, covering all major topics such as lightweight construction, medical technology and packaging. Situated in the Black Forest in Germany, Arburg followed a "pragmatic" approach to "Industry 4.0", this year.  

Arburg Technology Days: From Prototyping Center to Turnkey Injection Molding Solution 

Handling, Handhabungstechnik

Industrie 4.0

Additive Fertigung

Spritzgießmaschinen

Spritzgießen

Mehrkomponenten-Spritzgießen

Montagetechnik

Magnet for Visitors 

With their new injection units, the Victory and Duo series of hydraulic injection molding machines from Engel Austria achieve even greater precision, performance and efficiency. Only with a development based on a new system model approach can the integrated mechatronic optimization of all components be assured. 

The New Machine Generation Achieves Significant Benefits in Efficiency, Precision  and Performance 

Steuern, Regeln

Integrated Optimization of Hydraulic Injection Units 

When it comes to injection molding applications with large-volume moldings such as bottle crates, pallet boxes or containers, the plasticizing system has a crucial influence on the productivity. Only when plasticizing is  performed quickly and effectively can short cycle times and high product quality be combined. Applications with large shot weights, in particular, allow barrier screws to demonstrate their advantages compared with conventional screws. 

Barrier Screw from KraussMaffei Shortens the Cycle Time and Improves the  Melt Homogeneity 

Screws for Large Shot Weights 

A digital wind of change? The fact is that "flaws in the system" are too severe and reservations of many customers (injection molders, in this case) are too significant for that at present, according to Prof. Helmar Franz, member of the supervisory board of Haitian International, one of the world’s largest producers of injection molding machines. Based on his experience, Industry 4.0 does not work as a one-time application. It rather means a continuous process of improvement.  

Industry 4.0: Kunststoffe Talked to Professor Helmar Franz 

The Balance between Productivity  and Flexibility  

Currently, the plastics industry is fully focused on the topics of Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT). At K 2016, plastics machinery manufacturers presented the first solutions to integrated manufacturing, in which all products speak the same language. Work on a standardized data protocol for Industry 4.0 is now so far advanced that there is a solid basis in place for operating smart factories. There will be an important role here for the architecture of future control systems. 

New Control Concepts for Plastics Machinery in the Context of Industry 4.0 and IoT  

Steuerungen (Hardware und Software)

Mensch-Maschine-Interface

Auswerte- und Analysesoftware

Connectivity (Bussysteme, Telekommunikation, 4G / 5G, WLAN)

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Maschinen und Komponenten

The Digital Twin Extends  the Business Model 

High-precision injection molding processes, too, are subject to a variety of disturbances, such as fluctuations in batches, production breaks and compounding in of recyclate and pigments. With the innovative technique of adaptive process control, it is still possible to automatically respond to fluctuations during injection. This has a range of advantages. 

Part 1 of the Series "More Stability in Injection Molding with APC plus" 

Prozessregler

Messdatenerfassung, Software

Qualitätssicherung

Adaptive Process Control –  What Is It for? 

In the conventional technology, the flow index is used as a criterion for determining the changeover from the injection phase to the holding pressure phase. However, there are various process influences that prevent it from being used as a standard technique. To overcome this hurdle, the APC machine function uses a trick that enables it to achieve a uniformly high part quality. 

Part 2 of the Series "More Stability in Injection Molding with APC plus" 

How Are Viscosity Changes Detected and Corrected? 

In the manufacture of small and microparts, the injected volume is usually very small – presupposing suitable mold design without overdimensioned sprue geometry – and cycle times are short because the wall thicknesses are generally low. The plastication units required should therefore be capable of supplying a small, precisely metered volume of optimally processed melt at short time intervals. A new screw-piston plastication system with 8 mm screw diameter is setting records here. 

Screw-Piston Plastication Units Are the Preferred Choice for Small Shot Weights 

Minimizing Residence Time 

In contrast to recent years, when particular key themes often dominated the fair exhibits of the leading injection molding machine builders, this year’s Fakuma will present more combinations of many different competences in complex production cells. Thus, Industry 4.0 not only takes slowly concrete shape, but is put into context with peripherals and controls in the development of new series. 

Re-Inventing Injection Molding Holistically  

Servomotoren

Instandhaltung, Wartung in der spanenden Fertigung

ERP-Systeme

Polyurethan

Spritzgießwerkzeuge

Gasinjektionstechnik

Schaumspritzgießen

Temperiertechnik

Reinraumsysteme / -technik

Oberflächentechnik

Machines as the Heart of Production 

Cyclically measured process parameters are used for monitoring and optimizing injection molding processes. In the past, attention was focused on axis movements and the associated necessary forces and times. Now, the software package iQ weight monitor goes a large step further. It generates process parameters that are relevant for component quality: injected volume, melt viscosity variation, and pressure deviations during injection. 

With its iQ Weight Monitor, Engel Shifts Process Monitoring One Step up 

Prozessvisualisierung

Sensoren / Messwertaufnehmer

Numbers that Count 

In injection molding, repeated interruptions are a familiar problem. The aim is rapid restart without rejects and production loss. This challenge is met by the APC plus machine function from KraussMaffei. 

Part 3 of the Series "More Stability in Injection Molding with APC plus" 

Why Must the Process Control Make Corrections on Restart? 

In order to achieve optimal component properties with the use of fiber-reinforced plastics, both the fiber length and the homogeneity of the fiber distribution are decisive criteria. As the fibers tend to form clusters as the length increases, injection molding solutions are required which also ensure homogeneous distribution in such cases. 

How the Mixing of Fibers and Melt Can Be Assessed Objectively 

Verbundwerkstoffe / Werkstoffverbunde

Faserverarbeitung

Werkstoffprüfung, mechanisch

Homogeneity Is the Key 

With ten machines on its own fair booth and eight additional lines on partner booths, Arburg GmbH + Co KG of Lossburg, Germany, will be demonstrating their view of cross-linked and flexible automated production, such as smart machines, the Arburg host computer system (ALS) and overall their Smart Services. Visual eye-catchers on the booth are the large-scale machines with renewed design and a further developed multi-touch machine control for more functionality and ergonomics. Topping off their trade show are applications of additive production by Arburg plastics freeforming (AKF). 

Arburg 

Next Model with Renewed Design 

Various applications on all-electric and hydraulic molding machines enable Wittmann Battenfeld GmbH & Co. KG of Meinerzhagen, Germany, to place different technical and industrial focuses. Among other things, multi-component and internal gas injection molding take center stage. All machines reflect complete integration. 

Wittmann Battenfeld 

Vertically and Horizontally Cross-Linked 

Engel Austria GmbH, Schwertberg, Austria, prides itself in the quality, efficiency, and economy of highly integrated production solutions. For their presence at this year's Fakuma, they have selected the first clearmelt component for an exterior application, an e-mac all-electric injection molding machine in a new clamping force class, a new compact pipe distributor for cleanrooms, and higher precision liquid silicon rubber (LSR) processing. 

Engel 

Process Improvement on Short Terms 

Shortly before the start of the live e-symposium 2021, event host Engel gives an optimistic outlook for the current fiscal year. New challenges await the injection molding machine manufacturer, above all the current supply bottlenecks in raw materials and components.

Shortly before the start of the live e-symposium 2021, event host Engel gives an optimistic outlook for the current fiscal year. “Our order books are as full as they last were in 2018”, reports CEO Dr. Stefan Engleder. “We have genuinely sky-rocketed out of the crisis.” At the same time, new challenges await the injection molding machine manufacturer and system solution provider from Austria, above all the current supply bottlenecks in raw materials and components.

The change came about in November 2020. Even demand from the automotive industry picked up again after two very difficult years. As a result, the 2020/2021 fiscal year came to a conciliatory end. With 6400 employees around the world, the Engel Group generated EUR 1.1 billion in sales revenues. Although sales revenues again fell compared to the previous year with a minus of 15 %, the company is expecting growth again for the current fiscal year. “If the upward trend consolidates, growth in the order of up to 20 percent is realistic,” says CSO Dr. Christoph Steger.

The regional distribution of sales at the end of the 2020/2021 fiscal year reflects the impact of the crisis. Europe contributed 45 % of Group sales revenues, well below the previous year’s share of 54 %. The Americas accounted for 30 %– compared to 25 % the year before – and Asia for 23 %, compared to 20 % the year before. “The Americas and Asia – and China in particular – were the first to see the economy pick up again, and strongly,” says Steger. “But meanwhile, Europe is also clearly back on track.”

There were also shifts in the distribution of sales by business line. The Technical Moulding Division in particular saw significant growth. Technical Moulding includes the domestic products, sports, games and leisure segments, which experienced increased demand worldwide during the Corona pandemic. There was also further growth in the Medical business unit. Plastic products are making an important contribution to the fight against the pandemic. Engel has processed Covid-19-related orders with higher priority since the beginning of the pandemic.

Delivery Capability Ensured despite Shortage of Materials

“Plastics are and will remain the material of the future – this is reflected in the strong and, above all, fast-growing demand,” says Steger. Although the strong order situation gives rise to optimism, there is still a degree of uncertainty that makes planning difficult. “We have to be prepared for markets becoming more volatile and demanding more flexibility from us.” “We have geared up for crises,” Stefan Engleder continues. “Our global production network, and the stronger focus on decentralized expertise in sales, service and processing engineering help us to act in a versatile way.”

The Corona pandemic has not been defeated, the Engel Managing Directors emphasize. Lockdowns in individual countries, and travel restrictions with quarantine rules are still making daily business difficult. But the biggest challenge at the moment is delivery bottlenecks in raw materials and components. “The supply situation will see us face a couple of challenges in the next few months”, says Engleder. Although Engel is able to ensure global delivery capability thanks to its international network of plants and the dual-sourcing strategy established several years ago, the cost gap is continuing to widen. The markets are overheated, and rising inflation is aggravating this effect”, says Engleder. “This will also have an impact on prices in machine manufacturing.”

Sustainability and Digitalization Drive Growth

The innovation and growth drivers currently include three major topics in particular: sustainability, digitalization and the transformation of the automobile. All three areas are closely interlinked. “Sustainability only works with digitalization” is the core message of this year’s Engel live e-symposium. “Digitalization helps us to leverage the full potential of the injection molding machine, and to make production more efficient and sustainable by doing so,” says Stefan Engleder. “If we genuinely make use of digitalization, the CO2 reduction targets set by politicians will suddenly no longer seem impossible.” With innovative products and technologies, Engel makes an important contribution towards building up a circular economy for plastics, and this in turn plays an essential role in improving sustainability in the plastics industry.

Sustainable mobility, in turn, is the driver for transformation in the automotive industry. Regardless of which alternative drive technology prevails in the long term, the proportion of plastics in automobiles will continue to rise. Lightweight remains a key prerequisite for sustainable mobility and requires innovative injection molding solutions.

Innovative Strength is the Basis for Success

Innovative strength is an important basis for success, especially in challenging times, and the springboard when the economy picks up again. “We have continued to pursue our development goals with undiminished vigor over the past year and a half,” reports Engleder. Each year, Engel invests EUR 70 million in research and development. In the inventor rankings published annually by the Austrian Patent Office, the company is consistently among the top ten companies with the most patent applications. In the latest report for 2020, Engel ranks fourth.

“Our products, technologies and solutions, put us in an excellent position to optimally meet our customers’ current and future requirements,” emphasizes Engleder. “Together, we will master the challenges that lie ahead well.”

Engel Austria GmbH  

https://www.engelglobal.com

“We have continued to pursue our development goals with undiminished vigor during the challenging months, which is now benefitting the digital transformation, especially in the context of our sustainability efforts.” Dr. Stefan Engleder, CEO, Engel Group

Engel is again operating at full capacity, including headquarters in Schwertberg, Austria

“Plastics are and will remain the material of the future – this is reflected in the strong and, above all, fast-growing demand.” Dr. Christoph Steger, CSO, Engel Group

2021-06-22 Engel financial year

Wirtschaft

Unternehmen

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