Arburg at Chinaplas 2018

With its "Wir sind da." brand promise, Arburg is set to show its broad portfolio at Chinaplas 2018 in Shanghai from 24 to 27 April. Arburg booth (stand, L61 in hall 2) will focus on Industry 4.0 and additive manufacturing, as well as innovative lightweight construction for the automotive industry, LSR processing for the 3Cs sector (communication, computer, consumer), a medical technology application and an ambitious turnkey solution for the packaging industry. Everything from the one-of part to high-volume production will be presented.

 

Mr. Zhao Tong, Managing Director of the Arburg organisations in China said: "At the Chinaplas, we are presenting ourselves as a leading machine manufacturer and competent technology partner. The relocation of to the new exhibition site was an opportunity for Arburg to expand its stand area by a factor of 2.5 to now 600 square metres."

 

With over 30 years of experience in digitally networked machines including peripheral equipment, Arburg has speaheaded digital transformation. From the smart machine and host computer system to the Smart Factory and Smart Services, the company offers everything a 'smart' injection moulding company needs to enhance added value in networked and flexibly automated production, production efficiency and process reliability.

 

Mr. Zhao Tong, Managing Director - Arburg in China 

 

As a central component of Industry 4.0, the Arburg host computer system (ALS) enables complete traceability of orders, batches and individual parts. Machines and peripheral components can thus be networked in a simple, standardised way by means of interfaces based on the OPC UA application protocol. All exhibits on the Arburg stand are automated and connected to ALS. Visitors will be able to see for themselves how ALS can be used to record and archive the relevant process data online.

 

On the exhibition stand, they can also find out which solutions Arburg offers for the Smart Factory and the "Made in China 2025" state-sponsored industrial development plan and how Industry 4.0 components can be individually combined. These include, for example, industrial Ethernet, as well as online process control, data acquisition, detailed planning and status monitoring. Further information is also available, for example on the individualisation of high-volume parts as single-unit batches by combining injection moulding and additive manufacturing. Further offerings include the new remote maintenance tool and numerous assistance systems for starting, setting-up, optimising, producing and monitoring tasks.

 

Strength in service and automation

Arburg China's first-class range of services includes fast, competent service, both at local level and over the phone. In addition, a broad range of training courses relating to machines, application technology and service are provided in the local language. The team in China is growing continuously, particularly in service and after-sales, according to Mr. Zhao Tong. An important topic in this context is automation. In order to increase added value, an increasing number of more complex process steps are being integrated into the injection moulding process. Arburg offers a broad range of automation solutions from a single source. These cover everything, from simple pickers to six-axis robots featuring the Selogica user interface and complex turnkey systems.

 

In this way, for example, a sophisticated turnkey system produces folding crates for the packaging industry: a hydraulic Allrounder 920 S with a clamping force of 5,000 kN and a 1 + 2 + 2-cavity family mould first produces the five individual PP parts in a cycle time of 32 seconds. A Multilift V 40 linear robotic system with a load capacity of 40 kilograms then removes all moulded parts simultaneously and positions them in a separate assembly station. There, the 950 gram end product is automatically assembled within the injection moulding cycle and the ready-to-use folding crate (40 x 30 x 15 centimetres) is placed on a conveyor belt by the Multilift V 40.

 

Represented in all industries

With its modular product range, Arburg offers suitable solutions for every industry. The continuing trend in China is towards high-quality products. Lightweight parts are of interest to many industries, in particular the automotive sector. Arburg will therefore be presenting the ProFoam physical foaming technology in China for the first time. "As well as reducing weight, they can also be used specifically to improve mechanical characteristics and part quality. The innovative process can be used on conventional injection moulding machines. The exhibit is a hybrid Allrounder 570 H with a size 800 injection unit that produces an interesting component for passenger car engine compartments. Processing involves fibre-reinforced materials (PA66, 30 GF). With its fine cell structures, the ProFoam part is characterised by low weight, few sink holes, uniform shrinkage and greatly reduced distortion. A granulate lock ensures a continuous feed of material and gaseous blowing agent. As well as a version with a capacity of one litre, Arburg also offers a five-litre granulate lock for size 1300 to 4600 injection units.

 

Medical technology is an important market for Arburg and is characterised by high growth rates. The modular Allrounder can be precisely tailored to customers' requirements. The range extends from machines and production cells that are docked to a clean room from the outside to a machine or turnkey system in the clean room itself. An Allrounder 370 E Golden Electric is used at the Chinaplas 2018 to demonstrate that the entry-level electric series is also suitable for the precise production of medical technology parts. The exhibit uses a 2-cavity mould from Wellmei to produce Y connectors for intravenous drip therapy. The moulded parts made from PC are removed and set down by a Multilift Select linear robotic system.

 

Arburg is a pioneer in the processing of liquid silicone (LSR) and demonstrates its competence at the Chinaplas 2018 with a machine designed for LSR processing from the Golden Edition entry-level series: an Allrounder 420 C Golden Edition produces flexible LSR cases for the iPhone 8. The mould is provided by Prover, while the LSR dosing unit comes from 2 KM. A Multilift Select linear robotic system performs the handling tasks.

 

Industrial additive manufacturing

A Freeformer and a variety of functional components will be used at the Chinaplas 2018 to demonstrate that Arburg Plastic Freeforming (APF) is not only suitable for prototyping but also for the industrial additive manufacturing of functional components in particular. The exhibit processes qualified standard PP and the water-soluble support material Armat 12 to produce functional cable clips with delicate yet durable structures. Visitors can handle so-called "experience parts" at an interactive station and convince themselves of their functionality and quality.

 

 

One great advantage of the APF process is that it can be adapted to the requirements at hand. The open system affords users independence: Freeformer customers can qualify their own original material and optimise the freely programmable process parameters specifically to the relevant application. In addition to amorphous standard granulates such as ABS, PA and PC, the ever-expanding range of materials qualified by Arburg includes, for example,elastic TPE, medical grade PLLA, PC approved for the aerospace industry and semi-crystalline PP.