Press release
ENGEL at Medtec Europe 2013
More performance, less steps
Schwertberg/Austria – December 2012. Maximum product safety, best in class
precision and performance, reliable reproducibility and lowest energy consumption: at
Medtec Europe from 26th to 28th February 2013 in Stuttgart, Germany, ENGEL
AUSTRIA will be demonstrating how medical technology manufacturers can
implement continually increasing requirements in a cost-efficient way thanks to
innovative turnkey solutions. In Hall 1, Booth I20 the Austrian injection moulding
machine manufacturer and automation expert will be producing auto-injector parts in
two-component technology. The machine for this application is an all-electric ENGEL
e-motion injection moulding machine with iQ weight control and an integrated ENGEL
easix robot.
"Medical product manufacturers increasingly need to pay attention to unit cost per piece.
Process integration offers enormous opportunities here, and this explains why multiplecomponent applications are so rapidly gaining in importance in this industry", emphasises
Christoph Lhota, Head of ENGEL Business Unit Medical. Highly-integrated and automated
production cells reduce investment outlay and operating costs; the systems typically need
far less floor space; there is no need to store intermediate products, and - in many
applications - process stability and end product quality can be increased by merging what
were previously separate steps.
As an example, ABS and TPE will be processed in a single step, using a servoelectric
16+16x index platen mould, on an ENGEL e-motion 80H/80W/180 T WP combi in
cleanroom design at Medtec. ENGEL is implementing this exhibit in cooperation with
system partners, including Hack Formenbau, SHL (Scandinavian Health), Piovan, Max
Petek Reinraumtechnik and Stäubli.
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH, A-4311 Schwertberg/Austria,
Tel.: +43 50 620-0, Fax: +43 50 620-3009
E-mail: [email protected], http://www.engelglobal.com
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Press release
Robot integration opens up new savings potential
The parts will be manipulated by an ENGEL easix multi-axis industrial robot that is fully
integrated with the injection moulding machine's control unit. Control integration helps
processors to achieve additional efficiency potentials. The move instructions for the robot
are built into the machine's control unit so that the machine operator no longer needs to
familiarise themselves with two separate control logic approaches. Many jobs for which the
legacy approach meant calling in programmers can now be handled by the machine
operator themselves, thus improving the availability of the production plant. Because the
integrated robot can access the machine parameters, interaction between the robot system
and the machine movements can be optimised. For example, the integrated robot can start
to take off moulded parts before the mould is fully open, thus reducing cycle time.
As the trend towards more productivity and efficiency in the injection moulding process
increases, processing machine performance requirements become tougher. Over recent
years, ENGEL has consistently geared its all-electric ENGEL e-motion injection moulding
machines for high performance. ENGEL's all-electric injection moulding machines are
capable of achieving cycle times well under three seconds, and injection speeds of more
than 500 mm per second. To tailor the e-motion machines more closely to the plastics
processor's individual needs, ENGEL has extended its medium-sized machine range.
Machines with 160 and 220 tonnes clamping force have been added to the range.
Intelligent online process control
iQ weight control, ENGEL's online process control for injection moulding machines with
electrical injection units, is another innovation. The software, for which ENGEL has applied
for a patent, detects fluctuations in the ambient conditions and raw materials and
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH, A-4311 Schwertberg/Austria,
Tel.: +43 50 620-0, Fax: +43 50 620-3009
E-mail: [email protected], http://www.engelglobal.com
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Press release
compensates for them in the same shot. To allow this to happen, iQ weight control
analyses the pressure profile at screw positions in real time during the injection process
and compares the measured values with a reference cycle online. Based on this, the
system computes a new set of process parameters which allow changes in the melt volume
and material viscosity – the two most important factors when it comes to the quality of
moulded parts – to be detected immediately. In case of deviations from the set values, the
relevant process parameters are readjusted automatically, thus avoiding any impact on
mould filling.
GMP-compliant tray server reduces contamination risk
At Medtec, ENGEL will again be demonstrating its cleanroom competency. The production
cell is encapsulated as a cleanroom. The integrated tray server was developed by ENGEL
specifically for cleanroom applications, where the discharge and feed systems have often
been identified as the cause of contamination. To reduce abrasive wear and particulate
matter load to a minimum, ENGEL uses only GMP-compliant materials for trays and belt
conveyors and does without direction changes. The trays help to feed the moulded parts to a
downstream assembly machine in the correct orientation.
ENGEL med.con on 25th February in Wurmberg
One day before the trade fair doors open, ENGEL is launching an industry meeting for
medical technology experts. ENGEL med.con takes place on 25th February 2013 in
Wurmberg near Stuttgart. Customers, partners and interested parties are cordially invited
to come together at the new ENGEL Deutschland Technologie Forum Stuttgart to discover
more about innovative machine and automation technologies, process engineering and
turnkey solutions, discuss the latest trends and exchange views and experiences with other
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH, A-4311 Schwertberg/Austria,
Tel.: +43 50 620-0, Fax: +43 50 620-3009
E-mail: [email protected], http://www.engelglobal.com
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Press release
experts and processors. ENGEL med.con is not a purely trade-only conference, but also
designed to purvey practical know-how. The new ENGEL subsidiary's huge technology
centre provides the perfect backdrop for exhibiting several machines to demonstrate how
efficiency potentials can be leveraged to the max in the medical technology industry.
ENGEL at Medtec Europe 2013 in Stuttgart:
Hall 1, Booth I20
ENGEL med.con 2013 in Wurmberg near Stuttgart –
Programme and registration: [email protected]
Highly precise and frugal in terms of energy consumption: an ENGEL e-motion 80H/80W/180 T WP
combi in cleanroom design will be producing auto-injector parts in two-component technology at
Medtec Europe.
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH, A-4311 Schwertberg/Austria,
Tel.: +43 50 620-0, Fax: +43 50 620-3009
E-mail: [email protected], http://www.engelglobal.com
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Press release
Multiple-component technology is becoming increasingly important in medical engineering. At the
same time, the use of multiple cavity moulds is increasing. The auto-injector parts will be injected
into a 16+16x index platen mould.
Part manipulation is encapsulated as a cleanroom including the injection unit. The integrated tray
server was developed by ENGEL specifically for cleanroom applications.
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH, A-4311 Schwertberg/Austria,
Tel.: +43 50 620-0, Fax: +43 50 620-3009
E-mail: [email protected], http://www.engelglobal.com
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Press release
The ENGEL easix robot deposits the moulded parts on trays which feed the moulded parts to a
downstream assembly machine in the correct orientation.
iQ weight control guarantees consistently high moulded parts quality. This means that changes in
viscosity, for example, are detected and counterbalanced online. Impact on the mould filling process is
thus prevented.
Pictures: ENGEL
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH, A-4311 Schwertberg/Austria,
Tel.: +43 50 620-0, Fax: +43 50 620-3009
E-mail: [email protected], http://www.engelglobal.com
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Press release
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH
ENGEL is one of the global leaders in the manufacture of plastics processing machines. Today, the
ENGEL Group offers a full range of technology modules for plastics processing as a single source
supplier: Injection moulding machines for thermoplastics and elastomers, and automation, with the
assurance that individual components are also competitive and successful in the world markets. With
eight production plants in Europe, North America and Asia (China, Korea), subsidiaries and
representatives in over 85 countries, ENGEL offers its customers the optimal global support they need
to compete and succeed with new technologies and leading-edge production systems.
Contact for journalists:
Gerd Liebig, Group Marketing Director, ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH,
Ludwig-Engel-Strasse 1, A-4311 Schwertberg, Austria,
Tel.: +43 (0)50 620 3800, fax: -3009, email: [email protected]
Susanne Zinckgraf, Public Relations Manager, ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH,
Ludwig-Engel-Strasse 1, A-4311 Schwertberg, Austria
PR office: Theodor-Heuss-Strasse 85, D-67435 Neustadt, Germany,
Tel.: +49 (0)6327/97699-02, Fax: -03, E-mail: [email protected]
Contact for readers:
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH, Ludwig-Engel-Strasse 1, A-4311 Schwertberg, Austria,
Tel.: +43 (0)50/620-0, Fax: -3009, E-mail: [email protected], www.engelglobal.com
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH, A-4311 Schwertberg/Austria,
Tel.: +43 50 620-0, Fax: +43 50 620-3009
E-mail: [email protected], http://www.engelglobal.com
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