e-motion 160 combi M Among the displays Engel plans for K 2022 is an injection molding machine (IMM) line producing two-component medical diagnostic sample vessels in clean-room conditions. In the first step, an injection unit on the stationary platen of an Engel e-motion 160 will inject a black PC material into a 32-cavity mold, forming the primary part of the vessels with cylindrical cavities. The IMM is incorporated in an Engel combi M design, which includes a second injection unit integrated in the moving platen and a horizontal indexing table. Following the first shot, the table will rotate 180 degrees, and the second injection unit will seal the cylinders with a transparent PC to form lenticular covers. Simultaneously, the first injection unit will inject black PC in a second mold to produce the next set of primary parts. Then, an Engel viper 20 linear robot will remove the completed two-component vessels and put them into trays, and an e-pic pick-and-place robot will cover the full trays with an intermediate layer so they can be stacked in boxes.
What’s new? The e-motion 160 combi M. This marks the first time Engel has offered a combi M configuration with an IMM this small.
Benefits A 20 percent smaller footprint than possible on a configuration with a vertical rotary table – which would require an IMM with about 309 tons of clamping force, as opposed to the e-motion 160’s 176 tons. This efficient use of space is especially valuable when operating in a clean-room environment. The combi M technology can be used for two-component molding, or to double the output if two identical molds are used.
Engel Machinery Inc., York, Pa., 717-764-6818, www.engelglobal.com
David Tillett | Associate Editor
Associate Editor David Tillett writes and edits for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. He covers new products, industry news, patents and consumer and business equipment. He has more than 20 years of experience in daily newspaper, online and magazine journalism.
