Hot-runner technology Günther Heisskanaltechnik’s future-oriented innovations at Fakuma 2023

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Günther Heisskanaltechnik GmbH

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Fakuma, the meeting place for the plastics industry, took place in Friedrichshafen from 17 to 21 October 2023. 39,343 trade visitors and satisfied exhibitors was the summary of the trade fair organiser. Overall, the trade fair content was based on the thematic pillars of digitalisation, automation, flexibility, energy efficiency and sustainability. Technology leader Günther Heisskanaltechnik also covered these topics.

With its innovative Blue Flow heating technology, which is significantly leaner, more powerful and more energy-efficient, Günther is recognised as a driver of energy efficiency in plastics processing. Thanks to its compact design, the Blue Flow hot runner nozzle can react quickly to heat. This favours problem-free processing of technical and high-temperature resistant plastics. The general use of hot runner technology also has an impact on sustainability in injection moulding processing, as a hot runner system conserves resources and improves the quality of the final plastic product. If you can save several tonnes of sprues, this alone is a significant saving, as anyone can work out. Perfect moulded parts also reduce the reject rate to a minimum.

Process reliability when changing moulds

You know the problem — after a long time, a mould is used again and you connect the mould in the belief that everything is correct. This is annoying if the wires of the heating load and thermocouple have been changed in the meantime and the documentation has not been adapted accordingly. This can lead to a short circuit during commissioning. The thermal sensor is then often no longer usable. As a result, the entire mould has to be dismantled, the defective parts replaced and the mould reassembled. An unnecessary and expensive loss of time. If the spare parts are not in stock and have to be ordered, it can quickly take several days to repair a mould that should be producing parts.

The Blue Master check presented by Günther Heißkanaltechnik for the first time at Fakuma is a useful aid for mould and tool making and for injection moulding companies. The measuring electronics are installed in a classic industrial plug housing, including particularly economical transmission technology via Bluetooth low energy and a rechargeable battery. The measuring electronics use a low measuring voltage to reliably determine whether it is a thermocouple or a heating load and also provides information on the polarity of thermocouples. The Blue Master check checks all contacts against each other. The diagnostic results are displayed both graphically and in tabular form in an app on any end device (Android, iOS). They can then be saved, exported and archived for documentation purposes.

The Blue Master check's rechargeable battery system guarantees optimum performance for an entire working day. It is charged via a standard USB power supply unit. The transmission power is sufficient to transmit the measurement results to an end device over a distance of up to ten metres.

Process optimisation

Approaches to energy efficiency for injection moulding in the packaging industry

Close to the customer, recognising worries and needs

At last year's K trade fair, the technology leader in hot runner and cold runner technology, Günther Heisskanaltechnik, presented new control technology with optimised control properties, comprehensive connectivity and intuitive operation thanks to the matching app. An additional version of the new Blue Master compact temperature control units with an integrated display has now been presented. Managing Director Dr Stefan Sommer: “Once again, our position as a problem solver was in demand here. To this end, it is important to be close to our customers and to support them with their everyday challenges. In other words, recognising their needs and initiating targeted developments that offer them relief, process stability and increased efficiency. This also resulted in the decision to equip the temperature control units of the Blue Master compact version with a display — deliberately for users who do not use a smartphone or tablet during operation.”

The same also applies to the hot runner nozzles of types 8/10/12 SMT and NMT from 50 mm to 200 mm with conventional heating that are now being presented at Fakuma. The position-safe heating fixation enables precise temperature control and space-saving design.

Future-proof

Managing Directors Dr Stefan Sommer and Siegrid Sommer were satisfied with Fakuma 2023: “Once again, it was clear that technological development in the plastics industry is continuing unabated in the direction of material and energy efficiency. Both the innovative Blue Flow heating technology and new products such as the Blue Master check attracted a great deal of interest.” Despite the current difficult economic environment, many visitors came to the stand and left no doubt about the future viability of plastics as a material. “The challenges facing the plastics industry are complex,” said Siegrid Sommer . “Issues such as saving energy, conserving resources, driving forward automation and digitalisation are the trend drivers of the present. Reducing costs and saving resources are issues that every company has to deal with, but they have always been the main focus of Günther Heisskanaltechnik. High-quality and durable high-tech solutions, which are used in a wide range of industries and are indispensable there, were already in demand forty years ago. Our products and solutions are designed to open up new opportunities for injection moulding companies and tool and mould makers to produce faster and more cost-effectively with higher quality and process reliability — now and in the future.”

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