By Karen Hanna
An injection molding machine (IMM) that Wilmington Machinery says is “like no other” boasts some of the same capabilities as other models in its line, but is twice as productive, according to the company.
The new Lumina MP1200 “has two extruders and can run two high-pressure molds at the same time side by side, even stack molds,” said Jim Boos, VP of sales and marketing. “With the two extruders, you could make two different parts at the same time, and each could be a different color if you wanted.”
The press, which has 1,200 tons of clamping force, is unique among the machines in the MP series in that it has dual 130mm reciprocating/compounding injection units, along with first-in, first-out 50-pound accumulators.
“You could double your production from a single machine vs two machines,” Boos said.
With the ability to run one or two molds, with one or multiple cavities, with total shot weights of 100 pounds, or 50 pounds on a side, it can be used to manufacture automotive, recreational, medical and materials-handling parts, as well as enclosures.
It joins two other presses, both named for their tonnages: the MP500 and MP800, which debuted at NPE 2018. MP stands for “medium pressure.” The MP500 has a shot size of about 15 pounds for HDPE, while the MP800's is 44 pounds.
The IMM is ideal for molding large parts with gas-assist or foaming technologies. As standard, it includes a gas port in the extruder barrel. Like other IMMs in Wilmington’s stable, the MP1200 can process 100 percent recycled materials — a capability Boos said molders find appealing.
“There is a great demand for machines capable of using 100 percent recycled material,” he said.
Users of Wilmington IMMs can convert recycled flake directly into parts, avoiding the need for pelletization.
“Our machines are an excellent way to take scrap, [waste] or regrind from a business and turn it into a sellable product,” he said. “Some large companies generate a lot of scrap from their primary process. They can take that scrap and generate products like pallets that could be used to ship and handle the primary products they manufacture.”
According to the company, the MP1200 can produce parts that must meet stringent cosmetic standards.
The MP1200 can handle direct gas injection into the extruder barrel using nitrogen or carbon dioxide. According to Boos, accessories can include integrated gas-generation technology and gas-assist controller from Bauer Compressors Inc., Norfolk, Va.; part-removal automation from Ranger Automation Systems Inc., Millbury, Mass.; and resin blending and loading equipment from Maguire USA, Aston, Pa.
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Contact:
Wilmington Machinery Inc., Wilmington, N.C., 910-452-5090, https://wilmingtonmachinery.com
Karen Hanna | Senior Staff Reporter
Senior Staff Reporter Karen Hanna covers injection molding, molds and tooling, processors, workforce and other topics, and writes features including In Other Words and Problem Solved for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. She has more than 15 years of experience in daily and magazine journalism.
