With Mold Wizard, Siemens offers a special application for the support of mould design in the injection moulding sector. In order to improve the availability of standard parts, leading companies in the supply of mould components cooperated to further improve this tool.

Software developer Open Mind has upgraded its Hypermill CAM software for machine- and controller-independent NC programming. These include optimisations for Virtual Machining, enhancements to the 5-axis strategies for better results in terms of surface quality, new options for 2D functionalities, as well as efficient innovations in the area of electrode manufacturing that deliver even more convenient and faster programming.

3D printing company Stratasys announced that Danish shoe manufacturer Ecco is using their Origin One 3D printing technology to accelerate product development, allowing conceptual footwear samples to be reviewed early in the development cycle using 3D printed moulds and lasts (mechanical forms shaped like a foot) with resin materials from Henkel Loctite.

Sacmi Imola is specialised in mould making for rigid packaging production. To further automate and digitise its production, the Italian company invested in robotic systems from Erowa to make machining and EDM operations more efficient.

Blow moulds produced by Blomix are used worldwide. The Dutch company strives to meet highest quality demands while remaining flexible and economical. The recent investment in automated 5-axis machining centres from Hermle helps the company achieve these goals.

Germany — Barnes Molding Solutions announced the opening of its Customer Technology Center in Haslach, Germany. The complete suite of the Molding Solutions brands’ portfolio will be open for visitors to experience the synergies of the connected brands.

Six Hurco 3-axis vertical machining centres carry out a majority of prismatic machining in the toolroom of plastic packaging manufacturer in Beccles, UK. Instead of subcontracting machining jobs, the company is now able to offer the production of bigger multi-cavity moulds, for instance.

Germany — At Fakuma 2021, Meusburger put the spotlight on its range of injection moulders as well as the standard and custom hot runner systems. A highlight at the stand was the Engel injection moulding machine, which visitors were able to watch live in action producing bread boxes.

Cutting speeds and tool life often determine the development of tools. However, targeted problem solving is often disregarded in the process. Instead of constant product innovations, OSG concentrates on user-specific solutions.

Used machinery dealer Gindumac will be co-exhibiting with KraussMaffei at Fakuma — International Trade Fair for Plastics Processing — in Friedrichshafen, Germany, from October 12-16, 2021. The two companies have already been linked by a strategic partnership for the used machinery business for several years.