By Karen Hanna
COVID-19 might have shut down its launch party, but an upgraded machine series from Engel still knows how to get down.
In size, that is.
Engel is putting a spotlight on its e-mac 265/180, the model it planned to exhibit in October at the since-canceled Fakuma, as part of the rollout of the first upgraded machines of its all-electric series. Sporting an optimized toggle lever, the e-mac 265/180 has the same opening stroke as the previous version but is nearly 1.5 feet shorter. In a press release, Engel said its new e-mac machines are the most compact worldwide within their particular performance classes. It also said the machines are productive, energy-efficient and cost-effective to run, even in clean rooms.
Along with the e-mac 180, new versions of the e-mac 80, e-mac 100 and e-mac 160 also are available, with new versions of the rest of the line slated to make their debuts later. The numbers specify the machines’ clamping force in metric tons.
The machines’ toggle lever has been redesigned in order to make the whole clamping unit as compact as possible, given factors such as opening stroke and mold height.
Servo-electric drives perform all movements, including the nozzle movement and ejection, of standard versions of the e-mac. However, to meet users’ needs, Engel can integrate a servo-hydraulic unit into the machine frame without making the machine larger.
In the same way it disrupted the manufacturing world, the pandemic upended the coming-out party for the machine upgrades.
Instead of debuting the e-mac changes at Fakuma, Engel is planning a free virtual event it’s dubbed an “Engel live e-xperience,” featuring live exhibits and online meetings with specialists and company representatives, to take place during the time Fakuma originally was scheduled, from Oct. 13-Oct. 16.
"Even in times of Covid-19, there is plenty going on in the Engel R&D pipeline,” Chief Sales Officer Christoph Steger said.
Engel experts will present talks on two days of the conference, with each day's talks repeated once, and audience members will be able to submit questions via a chat function. Talks will focus on smart machine controls, data analytics, digital service concepts and automation, as well as new processing technologies.
Engel plans to set up seven exhibits at its headquarters in Schwertberg, Austria, for the virtual event, which also will feature virtual, interactive experiences. Participants can engage with Engel to solve group-specific tasks using Engel’s inject 4.0 products.
While the coronavirus pandemic did not influence the e-mac upgrades, Engel reported it’s seen greater demand for the machines for medical molding.
Engel stressed the precision of the e-mac 265/180, making it appropriate for the production of pipettes.
Using a 64-cavity precision mold provided by Tanner Formenbau AG, Feuerthalen, Switzerland, the approximately 200-ton e-mac 180 can make PP pipette tips in 6-second cycles. Besides making medical components, the machine can be used in technical molding, as well as to produce packaging and communications components.
In addition to showcasing the Tanner mold, the exhibit originally planned for Fakuma also would have included a linear Engel viper 20 robot to remove the pipettes.
Depending on customer needs, Engel can supply production cells with solutions for automation, digitalization and networking. For instance, when tailored for pipette-making, the e-mac is equipped with iQ weight control, which adjusts the melt volume per shot, and iQ flow control smart assistance, which provides automatic temperature adjustments.
For further information about the live e-xperience, go to www.engelglobal.com/ENGELexperience.
Karen Hanna, associate editor
Contact:
Engel Machinery Inc., York, Pa., 717-764-6818, www.engelglobal.com
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