Called the Flat Die Unit (FDU), this hot runner system passes melt through a long slit instead of a circular hole like a conventional nozzle. The result is said to be faster injection of more melt through a thinner gate opening, with lower shear and injection pressure, as well as lower melt temperature.

How does a company transition from manufacturing small parts to the micro-scale? Can these parts be produced cost-effectively? What is important when partnering with another company?

In the following interview, Florian Schmitz, organiser of Moulding Expo, talks about the current difficulties, the expectations of exhibitors and the future of the trade fair industry.

In mould and die making, individual machining processes are increasingly being combined into automated production cells with integrated handling. The main advantage is a higher degree of machine utilisation, as the systems can operate unattended 24/7. Two prerequisites for realisation of such autonomous systems are more intensive digitalisation of the processes consistent with Industry 4.0 and an increased level of investment.

At the Mindelheim-based company BBG, an end-to-end line for finishing glass with polyurethane (PUR) is being set up to demonstrate and test the results of a research project. The project “EKI — Engineering for AI-based Automation in Production Environments” is intended to pave the way for the intelligent adaptation of production systems to changing requirements and environmental conditions, for example in order to manufacture new variants of a product.

In a joint project, GF Machining Solutions and Zecha compare four different automated manufacturing processes for injection moulding — with a focus on their qualities and runtimes.

Boy will present two completely different injection moulding machines in Poland. While the largest injection moulding machine of the manufacturer — a Boy 125 E with a horizontal clamping force of 1,250 kN — represents the upper limit of the company’s product range, the Boy 25 E VV with 250 kN is the most widely built Boy injection moulding machine.

When HaGeForm Sachsen GmbH was in despair about a cylindrical pocket, the visit from Mapal came just in time - and the right tools were also on board.

Digitalisation and sustainability hand in hand — at Plastpol 2022 from 24 to 27 May in Kielce, Poland, Engel is presenting smart exhibits in Hall F (Stands 3 and 4) to show how important the automation and digitalisation of injection moulding processes are — not only for productivity, but also for improved energy and resource efficiency.

With the 'Darwin' project, the Fraunhofer Spinn-off Plus 10 and SKZ want to develop new AI solutions for injection moulding and put them through practical tests. The models will be tested on different machines in order to design a manufacturer-independent solution.