Regardless of generally slightly weaker growth and the turndown in individual countries, Engel is expecting a continued high order income for the current business year. By the end of March, the Austrian machine builder will invest almost EUR 100 million in further expansion of its locations and capacities. For the K 2016, the main focus will be on systems solutions. 

Engel Aims for a New All-Time High in Turnover, and Expands its High Competence in  Systems Solutions 

Industrie 4.0

Spritzgießmaschinen

Spritzgießen

Deeds Follow Words 

In the past, reductions in the energy consumption of injection molding machines have come about through numerous advances in drive technology. Today it is no longer just about the energy consumption of individual consumers. Instead, the spotlight is increasingly being trained on capping energy peaks and distributing regenerative energy. Progressive machine networking under Industry 4.0 is opening up new horizons in the future of smart energy management. 

Industry 4.0 Paves the Way to Smart Energy Management 

Elektrische Antriebe

Reliably Avoiding Power Peaks 

As the leading international trade fair prepares to open its doors, the plastics industry has armed itself for the future with a host of novelty developments and technological innovations. The focus of many innovations is the "Internet of Things". Injection molding machine makers, especially, are pressing ahead with the various aspects of "Industry 4.0" and implementing them in new series, peripherals and controllers. 

Efficiency through Networking: The Injection Molding of Tomorrow 

Steuerungen (Hardware und Software)

Steuern, Regeln

Mehrkomponenten-Spritzgießen

Spritzprägen

Folientechnik (IMD, IML, FIM, u.a.)

The Injection Molding Machine 4.0 

Industry 4.0, lightweight construction, and combined technology – that is how one could summarize the current trends and challenges that have been the subject of countless injection molding developments during the past years. In their advance releases for the K exhibition, exhibitors clearly indicate that they are continuing along these lines. 

Injection Molding between Industry 4.0, Lightweight Construction, and Combined Technologies 

Verbundwerkstoffe / Werkstoffverbunde

Spritzgießwerkzeuge

Spritzgieß-Sonderverfahren

Hybridtechnik

Elastomer-Spritzgießen

Schaumspritzgießen

Reinraumsysteme / -technik

Trip to a Known Destination 

The Internet of Things forms the basis for Industry 4.0. In the injection molding operation of the future, machines, peripheral equipment, sensors and applications will be networked with each other, communicate autonomously with one another, share data, and trigger actions in each other. The traditional models for industrial communication are not capable of mastering these new challenges. OPC UA provides a solution. The plastics industry is working to establish this flexible and secure communication architecture as the standard. 

Common Communication Model Paves the Way for Industry 4.0 

Automatisierungstechnik

Temperiertechnik

The Smart Factory Speaks OPC UA 

Industry 4.0 or Internet of Things – behind these oft-quoted terms is a (r)evolution: Making production more efficient by networking machines and processes, which also involves great opportunities for plastics processors. The most important measure is collecting data, making it available for communication and providing a useful evaluation of it. 

Plastics Processors of Any Size Benefit from Industry 4.0 

Custom-Made Networking  Increases Efficiency 

At K 2016 Arburg, Lossburg, Germany, introduces the hybrid Allrounder 1120 H – a new machine size in a new design with the new Gestica control system. The largest high-performance machine extends the portfolio in the clamping force range up to 6500 kN. At the trade fair, the exhibit will produce an eight-piece folding step stool in an exclusive Arburg design. 

World Premiere at K 2016 

Hybrid Allrounder 1120 H 

At K 2016 KraussMaffei Technologies, Munich, Germany, introduces the new all-electric PX machine series. According to the manufacturer, the new series features an unprecedented combination of the advantages of an all-electric injection molding machine with maximum modularity. Processors benefit from high precision, productivity and flexibility in all production phases. K 2016 will feature the launch of the all-electric toggle machine with clamping forces from 500 to 2000 kN. It was conceived and designed with flexibility in mind, and this extends over the entire service life from the purchase to everyday production to retrofitting. The tried-and-tested modular concept of the KraussMaffei hydraulic series was thus transferred successfully to the all-electric PX. 

Newly Introduced at K 2016 

All-Electric PX Series 

Dr. Boy, Neustadt-Fernthal, Germany, the specialist for injection molding machines up to 1000 kN clamping force will show the brand-new Boy XXS with 6.3 tons clamping force at K 2016. 

Smallest Footprint 

XXS Table-Top Injection Molding Machine 

At K 2106 Netstal, Näfels, Switzerland, introduces the new Elios series with the model 7500-4200 and, with its launch, underscores its leading position in high-performance injection molding of thin-wall packaging and technical components for constructive lightweight design. 

Dry Cycle Time of 1.9 Seconds 

Elios 7500-4200 Injection Molding Machine 

At K 2016 in Düsseldorf, Netstal, Näfels, Switzerland, presentedaXos 8, the latest version of its innovative control technology, for the first time. The new version offers many new features and functions of aXos 8 that result in advantages for users in daily operation. They also offer complete flexibility with regard to process programming by application specialists. 

aXos 8 Machine Controller 

Simple Handling with Full Flexibility  

Among the basic objectives for implementing Industry 4.0 in plastics processing are improvements in production efficiency, flexibility, availability, and quality. So far, the branch is in general agreement. Thus the question is, in a given situation, which solution makes sense, so that an investment in IT and automation pay off? And where do opportunities for new business models lie? Kunststoffe asked around among those who should know – mechanical engineering earns its money before its customers do.  

How Manufacturers of Injection Molding Machines Are Conveying the Advantages of Digitized Production to their Customers 

Initiatives for Industry 4.0 

Electric injection molding machines are renowned for precision and efficiency – though also for their restricted range of equipment options. For hydraulic machines, modular systems have been available for many years, but purchasers of electric machines usually have just a simple choice of either a high-end or a low-budget machine. With the new PX, KraussMaffei presents the first ever all-electric injection machine series with an emphasis on flexibility. It starts with clamping forces from 500 to 2000 kN. 

KraussMaffei Presents the PX Modular All-Electric Injection Molding Machine 

Servomotoren

The All-Electric Tailor-Made Suit 

Every three years, the showcase of plastics technology, the K fair, takes place, where one can deduce the current state of the industry. What is occupying the experts today, and what will still be flourishing in the future? The following article describes some of the development paths and trends. At the end of the day, there is a lot of tried-and-tested technology that is being continually refined and improved. There were also some innovative and visionary applications to be seen. 

Industry 4.0 Comes to Injection Molding and True Innovations at K 2016 

Instandhaltung

Polyethylenterephthalat

Mehrfarben-Spritzgießmaschinen

Normalien und Heißkanaltechnik

Hybrid-Spritzgießen (Metall / Kunststoff)

Schäumen / Reaktive Verarbeitung

Montagetechnik

Oberflächentechnik

Optische Mess- und Prüftechnik

Injection Molding 4.0 – Visionary and Tried-and-Tested Solutions 

RJG, Inc., Traverse City, MI/USA, introduces MCSG-B-60-50, the new 6 mm Strain Gage sensor, the smallest injection molding pressure sensor of its kind. It matches the size of the Piezoelectric 9211 with greater ease of use and a lower price point. 

Smallest Injection Molding Pressure Sensor of its Kind 

Druck- / Kraftsensoren

6 mm Strain Gage Sensor 

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

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Maschinen und Komponenten

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