ENGEL shows practical steps toward smart factory

With inject 4.0., ENGEL is supporting the injection molding industry worldwide in taking full advantage of the opportunities presented by the fourth industrial revolution. At CHINAPLAS 2017, May 16 to May 19, in Guangzhou, China, ENGEL will present how the first practical steps on the path to the smart factory can look like. Visitors of the exhibition are invited to try out the function and effect of inject 4.0 solutions in real-time, get to know the latest products, and discuss questions and ideas with the ENGEL experts.

"Over the last one or two years, China has experienced a great deal of 4.0 hype. The subject has been and still is all the rage. We are now entering the stage of maturity here", says Gero Willmeroth, President Sales and Service at ENGEL Machinery (Shanghai). He further said that the stage of maturity means that the major pioneering companies are starting to prove successful, and now smaller companies are also working on concepts with which to concretely implement the new opportunities. “Many of our customers are astounded at just how easily the entry into digitalization and networking can become a reality, and at the high degree of benefit already being offered by individual solutions. Smart factory, step by step – that is the motto," Mr. Willmeroth added.

One of the major strengths of inject 4.0 by ENGEL is its modular approach. ENGEL is already offering a whole range of mature products and services for all areas of the smart factory. In the factory of the future, production processes will continuously self-optimize, allowing for highly flexible responses to ever more rapidly changing requirements. At the same time, this increases the efficiency, availability and productivity of manufacturing, as well as the quality of products.

To achieve these goals, inject 4.0 relies on the networking and integration of production systems, the systematic use of machine-, process-, and production-data, and the use of decentralised, intelligent assistance systems. The inject 4.0 products and services by ENGEL cover all three areas of the smart factory: smart machine, smart production, and smart service.

Process consistency and energy efficiency

During the four days of the exhibition, with the production of inject 4.0 logos on an ENGEL e motion 80 TL injection molding machine, ENGEL will tangibly demonstrate the potential of smart machine. The CC300 machine control is capable of simulating process fluctuations; the automatic readjustments by the intelligent assistance systems can then be tracked on the display of the machine. While iQ weight control maintains consistent injected melt volume throughout the entire injection molding process, iQ clamp control monitors the mould breathing and continuously readjusts the clamping force. This way, fluctuations in the environmental conditions and in the raw material are automatically detected and compensated for within the same shot, thus preventing rejects.

iQ weight control was the first of the iQ systems to be launched. With far more than 1,000 installations, the software has become very well established in the global markets, also being widely used in China. The possible areas of application include, for example, the production of very small precision components made of liquid silicone for the consumer electronics industry. "When needing to produce three-dimensionally sophisticated components with very low shot weights, iQ weight control achieves especially good results", according to Mr. Willmeroth. Initially, the software was only available for injection molding machines with electrical injection units, but at this time, hydraulic machines can also be equipped with iQ weight control.

The most recent iQ product is iQ flow control, which is being presented in China for the first time at the Chinaplas 2017. It is based on e-flomo, the temperature control water manifold by ENGEL that monitors and documents all cooling and temperature control cycles of injection molding machines and independently regulates either the flow volume or the temperature difference. iQ flow control connects e-flomo with the temperature control unit so as to continuously adjust the operational speed of the pump to actual requirements. This results in higher energy efficiency. ENGEL developed the integrated temperature control unit in cooperation with the Swiss temperature control unit manufacturer HB-Therm, and continues to strengthen its systems competency with the new e-temp line of temperature control units.

 Highest efficiency, compact footprint

With the e-motion 80 TL injection molding machine and the integrated e-pic robot, the design of the production cell being presented at Chinaplas also fulfils the highest demands on efficiency and precision. The machine combines the benefits of ENGEL’s tie-bar-less technology, such as quick setup processes, efficient automation solutions and compact production cells, with all-electric drive technology. Thanks to these characteristics, in Asia the e motion 80 TL is being preferentially deployed in the production of precision components and high-quality optical components in the electronics industry.

The innovative kinematics of the pick-and-place robot combines linear movements with a swivel arm, thus requiring very little space. The swivel arm is constructed of a customised, thermoplastic, lightweight composite material, which additionally increases the energy efficiency and dynamics.

ENGEL Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Tel: +86-21 5151 9292

Fax: +86-21 5151 9298

E-mail: sales.china@engel.at

Website: www.engelglobal.com

Booth: Hall 4.1, J41