By Karen Hanna
A 610-ton injection molding machine (IMM) for the production of pails is among the latest servo-hydraulics on the market.
After originally intending to launch its updated Q-Series 610 at NPE, Milacron is in the process of rolling out the machine now, several months after the pandemic forced the show’s cancellation.
Based on the already-available Q-Series, the pail-specific Q-Series 610 has a host of updates appropriate for its new niche producing pails with capacities ranging from 1 gallon to 6 gallons. It has a fast clamp, a higher-torque extruder appropriate for handling low-melt HDPE, quicker ejector speeds and an extended L:D ratio.
Water and air connections, including 0.75-inch conduits for high-flow air requirements and 2-inch water circuits, also have been specially planned to accommodate the needs of a machine making buckets, said Andy Stirn, VP of sales for injection molding and the aftermarket for Milacron in North America.
Along with other customizations, the machine has a carbide barrel and high-performance electric drive.
With all the changes, the resulting machine “is really competitive, speed-wise,” said Bob Mobley, Milacron’s director of marketing and innovation.
“But it’s also very competitive price-wise.”
In addition, the Q-Series 610 can be configured for 5-gallon buckets to be ejected from the bottom, with part-drop detection.
“We had customers of mine that were doing free drop, so it is a high base, so the parts come out the bottom easily, but we could also put automation on it to do in-mold labeling if we needed to,” Mobley said.
According to the company, the machine is reliable and offers good repeatability. It can achieve competitive cycle times of around 16.5 seconds, Mobley said.
The machine combines the advantages of both electric and hydraulic machines, according to Stirn and Mobley.
“The energy efficiency of this machine is almost the same as a full-electric for this application,” Stirn said. “So, there’s a huge advantage on energy efficiency. The water temperature is typically much cooler than a full hydraulic machine, so we’re not taxing the water systems of the plant; there’s thus much less heat going out into the plant, atmosphere or ambient. The noise levels are much reduced.”
With a price that is lower than all-electrics, Stirn said he believes the bucket machine could mop up.
“From performance to the price-point standpoint, this is, I think, going to be a really big hit within the pail market and container industry,” he said.
Karen Hanna, senior staff reporter
Contact:
Milacron LLC, Batavia, Ohio, 513-536-2000, www.milacron.com
