A Polish pharmaceutical company is developing inhalation therapy for the treatment of lung disease and the appropriate drug delivery drug. The inhaler has a complex interior and consists of 14 components. In order to be able to produce these with the required precision, Celon Pharma has formed a partnership with the mold making company Glittenberg and its hot runner sister Witosa.

Glittenberg Supplies Tools for Vital Medical Devices to Celon Pharma

Spritzgießen

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Verfahren

Spritzgießwerkzeuge

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Maschinen und Komponenten

Werkzeuge für die Kunststoffverarbeitung

Heißkanalsysteme

Komponenten für die Kunststoffverarbeitung

Medizintechnik

Medizinprodukte

Plastic in the Service of Medicine

Pipette tips feature a challenging wall thickness/length ratio, an inner geometry that is key for analysis results, and a tip opening just a few tenths of a millimeter wide. They have been in extremely high demand during the coronavirus pandemic, which is why the mold construction and hot runner specialist Männer has developed a mold with an innovative cluster concept.

Pipette Tips: Männer Presents a Mold with Replaceable Clusters

Maintenance During (Nearly)  Uninterrupted Production

The switchover process from the injection phase to the holding pressure phase is frequently the cause of reduced part quality in injection molding.

Phaseless Process Control Should Revolutionize the Switchover Process

Steuern, Regeln

Software

Prozesssimulation

Simulation

Mess- / Regel- und Prozessleittechnik

Prozessautomation

Spritzgießsimulation

Mess-, Steuer- und Regelgeräte

Qualitätssicherung

Qualitätssicherung Kunststoff

The Switchover Problem and  its Consequences

Tool and mold makers are detail oriented and innovative. Prof. Thomas Seul and Fabian Diehr met with some industry players to explore different paths they have taken through the thicket of this industry-jungle they have to deal with.

A Journey through the Landscape of the Tool and Mold Making Industry

Mikrospritzgießen

Mehrkomponenten-Spritzgießen

Innovationsmanagement

Produktentwicklung (F+E)

Werkzeug- und Formenbau

Dienstleistungen

Werkzeug-, Formen- und Modellbau

Projektmanagement

Wirtschaft

Handling, Handhabungstechnik

Automatisierungstechnik

Reinraumsysteme / -technik

Produktmanagement

Trend Setting or Following?

The Institute for Plastics Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen University is investigating a new control approach for injection molding in which the cavity pressure is controlled by different positions of the hot runner valve pin. The influence on the cavity pressure of different strokes in the holding pressure phase is investigated.

Cavity-Specific Pressure Control to Increase Process Consistency

The Hot Runner Valve Pin  as Actuating Variable

The consumables required for In-vitro diagnostics are manufactured in a production process that is subject to high requirements in terms of precision and quality, but also the complex cleanroom manufacturing environment. This has implications for the entire plant technology – especially toolmaking.

Strategic Approach through Classification according to Product Groups

Mold Platforms for IVD Consumables

Otto Klumpp GmbH has for many years processed, for example, highly transparent PC and high-performance plastics such as PPSU into sophisticated medical products. Since cleanliness and hygiene are essential for implants or blood-carrying systems, injection molding production and parts assembly are performed in the cleanroom. DLC-coated components also play an important role in in-house mold production. 

Otto Klumpp: DLC-Coated Standards in Cleanroom Production 

Polysulfone / Polysulfide

Normalien und Heißkanaltechnik

Cutting Edge Technology 

Jako meditec specializes in the injection molding of tubes, with closure caps and racks, in which blood samples from blood donors are kept deep-frozen for many years. Each sample can be uniquely traced thanks to a DM code. The two-component tubes are produced using a special, patented wet-in-wet injection molding process. 

Jako meditec: Patented Wet-in-Wet Process for Freeze-Stored Blood Sample Tubes 

Industrieroboter

Blood Samples with Origin Code 

HASCO Hasenclever GmbH + Co KG was founded in 1924 in Lüdenscheid, Germany.

HASCO Hasenclever GmbH + Co KG  

https://www.hasco.com

Angießeinsätze

Spritzgießmaschinen

Antriebselemente

Lineartechnik

Maschinenelemente

Armaturen

Mechanische Konstruktionselemente

Drucklufttechnik

Betriebsausrüstung / Betriebsmittel

Beratung und Consulting

Beschichten (CVD, PVD)

Chemisches Bearbeiten (Auftragen)

Oberflächentechnik

Beschichtungen

CAD Werkzeug-, Formenbau

Dichtungen

Druckluftarmaturen

Druckmessgeräte (Gas, Wasser, Dampf)

Messung von Gasen und Flüssigkeit

Messtechnik

Edelstähle

Stähle

Metall Werkstoffe

Erodiermaschinen

Werkzeugmaschinen für die spanende Fertigung

Extrusionswerkzeuge

Filter

Konstruktionselemente-Fluidtechnik

Getriebe

Gießmaschinen / Urformen

Maschinen für die spanlose Fertigung

Gleitlager

Lager

Halbzeuge und Zwischenprodukte

Heißkanaltechnik

Messung von Umgebung (Klima)

Heizung

Haustechnik

Hydraulik-Komponenten

Hydraulikzylinder

Fluidtechnik

Antriebe

Induktive Sensoren

Sensoren / Messwertaufnehmer

Kühlelemente, aktive

Kühlkörper

Elektromechanik

Kunststoff Werkstoffe

Kupplungen

Linearführungen

Markiersysteme

Messzubehör

Mathematik-Software

Messdatenerfassung und -verarbeitung

Messgeräte

Messgeräte, sonstige elektrisch

Elektrische / Magnetische Messtechnik

Näherungsschalter

Normteile

Normteile / Normalien

Platten

Kunststoff-Halbzeuge

Pneumatik-Komponenten

Reinigung

Schläuche aus Kunststoff

Schmelzefilter

Kunststoff-Aufbereitung

Schrauben

Spanneinrichtungen

Systemperipherie

Montagetechnik

Spritzgieß-Zubehör und Einzelteile

Stähle, hochfeste

Steuerungen (Hardware und Software)

Temperaturmessgeräte

Temperiertechnik

Tribologie

Umformwerkzeuge

Werkzeuge

Ventile

Verbindungstechnik

Wälzlager

Waschen und Entfetten

Werkzeugstähle

Werkzeugwechselsysteme

Werkzeugwechselsysteme, Spritzgieß

Zähler

Mechanische Messtechnik

Zahnräder

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

Industrie 4.0

Polyurethan

Additive Fertigung

Gasinjektionstechnik

Schaumspritzgießen

Machines as the Heart of Production 

It is familiar to every eyeglass wearer: Just a tiny spec on the glass ruins your vision. And there may even be a safety risk if car headlamps scatter the light in the wrong direction. The manufacture of optical parts by injection molding is therefore a serious and demanding task affecting the entire process chain.  

Optical Components Place High Requirements on the Entire Process Chain 

Kfz-Leuchten, Beleuchtung

Polyacrylate

Polycarbonat

Spritzprägen

Optik

Keeping a Sense of Perspective  

The announcements in the field of injection molding give the impression that the developments of recent years are continuing. These include the increasing digitalization of injection molding production, as well as highly integrated production cells that combine very different competencies. The spotlight shines not only on the machinery, but rather on optimum system solutions for integrating molds and individually configured peripheries in the digital and the real world. 

Fakuma 2018: Injection Molding Networked and Integrated 

Treibmittel

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

Elastomer-Spritzgießen

The Communicative Machine 

Increasing demands on component functionality and the need for efficient manufacturing processes are keeping multi-component injection molding squarely in the focus of plastics processing. Not all materials can be processed reliably in the desired combination. The new InMould-Plasma process, which is fully integrated into the injection molding process, facilitates more-efficient production and paves the way for completely new material combinations.

More Material Combinations,  Lower Costs

Thermoplastische Elastomere

Thermoplaste

Plasmabehandlung

Reinigen und Vorbehandeln

Dichtungsschäumen

Schäumen / Reaktive Verarbeitung

InMould-Plasma Streamlines the 2-Component Process and Expands  the Material Spectrum

Mold breathing provides useful information about the processes that occur in the mold and the cavity. Mold-maker Schneider Form and injection molding machine-maker Engel have recognized the potential which this process variable offers and have worked intensively on it for several years, albeit by adopting different approaches. They recently carried out joint tests on bumper molds using a two-platen injection molding machine with a clamping force of 40,000 kN and then swapped experiences.

Comparative Methods for Determining Mold Breathing

Energiemanagement / Smart Home

Installationstechnik

Industrie 4.0 für die Kunststoffverarbeitung

Druck- / Kraftsensoren

Using Breathing Signals for  Process Optimization

The newly developed Compactcube mold system from Foboha can be used on slightly modified standard machines in the low to medium clamping force range. This means that the advantages of cube mold technology are now also available for applications with smaller production volumes.

Compactcube Reduces Initial Capital Outlay and Maintenance Requirements

New Application Areas for Cube Molds on Standard Machines

Real-Time Process Monitoring in Cleanroom Environments

In the production of plastic parts for the medical and pharmaceutical industry, the requirements for cleanroom environments are becoming increasingly stringent. In this area, not only the demand for all-electric injection molding machines is increasing. There is also an increasing use of electric drives for the implementation of mold movements, which meet the high requirements for cleanliness and reliability.

Compared to hydraulic or pneumatic systems, electric drives offer high cleanliness and virtually maintenance-free operation over millions of cycles. In cooperation with Husky Injection Molding Systems, Schöttli AG, Diessenhofen, Switzlerland, a Husky Company, offers fully integrated complete solutions for electric mold movements and valve gate actuation in high-cavity injection molds.

The performance of electric drives is constantly evolving and opening up new areas of applications and uses. In combination with efficient control technology, the actuators offer great advantages over alternative systems from the hydraulic sector in terms of cleanliness and energy efficiency. In addition, individually programmable motion profiles, for example when actuating valve gate systems, can increase the quality of the molded part and the durability of the injection mold.

The vast experience of Schöttli AG, a Husky Company, in the design of electric actuators ensures that the ideal actuator is selected for every injection mold and every application. In addition to the maximum force, the acceleration of the movement is also taken into account in order to achieve the shortest possible cycle times. The applications are varied and include not only unscrewing and ejection movements but also combined movements, which are realized for example in compression molds and electric valve gate systems.

For example, Schöttli has designed and manufactured a 72+72 cavity stack mold for a medical locking cone, which ensures the unscrewing movement of the thread cores and demolding through ejection sleeves via four individually controlled electric drives (Fig. 1).

Schöttli - Hauptartikel