New hydraulic machines from Absolute Haitian are more powerful, economical

By Karen Hanna  

Absolute Haitian has launched into the next generation, with updates to all its injection molding machines (IMMs), including its hydraulic models, providing users of its Mars and Jupiter presses with a constellation of benefits. 

Available with clamping forces from 67 to 3,709 tons, the brand-new Mars III IMMs are more powerful and economical than ever, according to the company. The series features a new generation of servo-hydraulic drives and is now available in both a general-purpose and high-speed version, the Mars III F. Both a Mars III F and Jupiter III machine took a starring turn in Absolute Haitian’s virtual New Products Showcase, which has been available since June. 

All of Absolute Haitian’s third-generation IMMs, including its electrics and hybrids, have increased tie-bar spacing, a smaller footprint and Industry 4.0 connectivity. They also boast improvements to Absolute Haitian’s Connectivity Plus software and Motion Plus firmware.  

Absolute Haitian has updated both the injection and clamping units on the Mars III and Mars III F machines. 

The injection units on models with clamping forces of less than 1,200 tons exhibit speed increases ranging from 6 to 19 percent, while the largest models enjoy increases of 3 to 5 percent, contributing to faster cycle times. 

The machines’ servo-drive systems can handle faster injection deceleration and acceleration speeds of 100 milliseconds — half the time of earlier models. To handle increased pressure and injection speeds, the injection units feature newly designed plasticizing components. Linear guides support the injection carriage and injection movement with greater accuracy, and less energy and friction. 

Along with other features, the Mars machines have a swiveling injection unit for quick screw and barrel changeover. They also boast greater back-pressure control. 

“Additionally, the new generation of hydraulic-servo drives in combination with a new generation of inverter promises more power and ensures more precise movement of all axes,” Absolute Haitian owner and CTO Mike Ortolano said. “Thanks to intelligent algorithms, injection process control has been optimized by replacing proportional valves with standard closed-loop valves without sacrificing speed and pressure.” 

The machines are equipped with clamping units that have been upgraded in a number of ways, so they last longer and perform better, with greater repeatability of the mold-opening and -closing movements. For better, more efficient lubrication, the units have graphite/steel bushings. They have an optimized platen design to centralize the force that’s transmitted to the mold, and a flexible part drop area with an open base on the front side to accommodate part removal conveyors. 

In addition to the hardware improvements, the Mars machines take advantage of software upgrades. 

“We provide the customer an intelligent machine for connectivity with all common interfaces, enabling freedom of choice in, and seamless, open connection to, integration partners. In this way, the highly standardized Mars III machines can be easily integrated into automated processes, cells and production lines as required — maximizing flexibility with the best possible productivity,” Ortolano said.  

The Mars machines feature versatile communication interfaces and interoperability protocols. Connectivity Plus allows remote monitoring and access, and easy integration with equipment, such as automation, with common interfaces.  

The Motion Plus firmware comprises already established technologies, as well as new developments for intelligent motion control enabling extremely responsive control. The enhancements make possible large bandwidths, extremely precise closed-loop control of the injection process, and precise velocity and pressure control. 

“This may not sound spectacular at first, but given the enormous manufacturing power and service capacities, this technological advance is taking on new significance,” Ortolano said.  

Designed with thin-walled products, especially food packaging, in mind, the Mars III F is even more powerful, precise and economical. It is equipped with special components for fast-cycle molding and features energy-efficient drives. It can achieve injection speeds of up to about 19.7 inches per second and cycle-time reductions of up to 19 percent. In the New Products Showcase, Absolute Haitian showed off an MA 3800III/120 F, a 427-ton unit that produced clear food containers on a four-cavity mold in 5.5-second cycles. The containers had a wall thickness of 0.39mm and weighed 20.3 grams. 

Also at the showcase, Absolute Haitian displayed a Jupiter IMM, the JU 5500 III/3430, a 618-ton machine. The Jupiter machines, which have clamping forces ranging from 500 to 7,400 tons, have a  two-platen design, which takes up as much as 30 percent less floor space than machines, like the Mars, that have a toggle design.  

While the Jupiter III series has been on the market for more than a year, the showcase presented an opportunity for the company to demonstrate one of the newest capabilities available on all its machines — low-pressure molding made possible with a partnership with Imflux. During the showcase, the Hamilton, Ohio, company’s process control technology — now available as an option on all Absolute Haitian’s machines — enabled the Jupiter to produce two bowls, one lid and four measuring spoons. The machine ran a family mold alongside a Hilectro top-entry robot and six-axis Fanuc cobot.  

The Imflux process significantly reduces pressure and cycle times and allows machines to automatically adjust to material variability. These benefits allow users to produce thin-walled parts and use smaller injection units or machines with smaller tonnages. 

Karen Hanna, senior staff reporter 

[email protected] 

Contact: 

Absolute Haitian Corp., Worcester, Mass., 508-459-5372, www.absolutehaitian.com

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