Electrified 4.0: Sumitomo (SHI) Demag at K 2016

Electrified 4.0: Sumitomo… With eight machines running at K 2016, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag will set new milestones in the latest injection moulding technology for the production of plastic packaging, automotive parts and precision components. The injection moulding machinery manufacturer with headquarters in Schwaig near Nuremberg will present five machine exhibits under the trade fair motto "Electrified 4.0" on its own stand in Hall 15 and a further three with the partner companies Sepro, Yushin and ONI. All these exhibits underscore product-specific unique selling propositions: speed, an increasing number of electric drives and equipment designed for the opportunities and demands of Industry 4.0.

Two El-Exis SP machines with a clamping force of 2,000 and 4,200 kN are running on Stand D22 in Hall 15, along with a Systec Servo with 2,800 kN and two IntElect with 500 and 4,500 kN. They all support the application technology focus of Sumitomo (SHI) Demag. Both high-performance El-Exis SP machines demonstrate packaging applications, the intention being to highlight the El-Exis SP 200 as the most rapid IML exhibit at K 2016. With speed compression, the El-Exis SP 420 demonstrates how, even in the area of extremely thin-walled products, efficiency can be increased significantly. With the aid of in-mould decoration (IMD), the Systec Servo 280 produces a backlit, decorated component in an application for the automotive and consumer markets that demonstrates the utmost sophistication in process and application technology. The IntElect 450 produces crystal-clear headlight covers in a highly efficient electric production cell and, on the one hand, demonstrates the advantages of all-electric concepts in larger machines and, on the other, the "Automotive Goes All-Electric" trend. A premiere at trade shows, the smaller IntElect with 500 kN is presented with a particularly spectacular innovation.

El-Exis SP in detail

Over almost twenty years, the high-speed El-Exis machine has evolved into the leading machine for the injection moulding of plastic packaging today. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has updated it over several generations and continually increased its clamping force range. Today, current models of the El-Exis SP are available with clamping forces of 1,500 to 7,500 kN. Over 2,000 machines have already been installed by manufacturers of thin-walled plastic packaging, screw caps and a broad variety of closures. The proven concept employed by the machine was most recently updated again in terms of energy optimisation and is equipped with an OPC/UA interface for communication conforming to the standards of Industry 4.0.

The fastest IML application at K 2016: 4 decorated cups in less than 2 seconds

The high-speed El-Exis SP 200 injection moulding machine produces decorated cups in a 4-cavity mould. A high-speed extraction robot intervenes through side entry in the parting level, places the labels in the stationary mould half and removes the four completed cups on the moving side. The cups are subsequently stacked. The exhibit illustrates the maximum speed currently possible and the highest available system productivity for the production of IML-decorated plastic containers.

With a cycle time of less than 2 seconds, the El-Exis SP 200 is most likely the fastest machine for the production of decorated containers at K 2016. The exhibit demonstrates the capability and performance of a variety of partners. The robot, gripper technology and injection mould are provided by Brink B.V., Harskamp/Netherlands. Labels are supplied by Verstraete, Maldegem/Belgium, a specialist for the production and application of IML (in-mould labels). The polypropylene is provided by Borealis.

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag