By Karen Hanna
A company that got its start as a tradesman’s shop in Germany is celebrating its 100th anniversary with the release of a hybrid version of an injection molding machine (IMM) that first hit the market in 1961.
Arburg touts its new 110-ton Allrounder 470 H as an efficient alternative to similar hydraulic IMMs, using half as much energy and achieving an annual savings in emissions of up to 26,455 pounds of carbon dioxide.
“Arburg is taking an important step towards the future with its Allrounder 470 H anniversary machine,” said Guido Frohnhaus, managing director for technology and engineering for Arburg. In a press release, he added, “When designing the new Allrounder 470 H, we significantly enhanced our proven technology to optimise the energy footprint and reduce cycle times.”
Taking advantage of the Arburg servo hydraulic system — also known as ASH — the hybrid machine has a speed-controlled, water-cooled servo motor that continuously adjusts the drive system to the actual power requirement. It has an electric clamping unit and hydraulic injection unit.
In addition to saving energy, the IMM uses around 35 percent less oil and requires between 50 and 70 percent less cooling water. It is relatively quiet, and its dry-cycle time is only about two-thirds that of comparable IMMs.
For Arburg — named for its founder, Arthur Hehl, and the town of Lossburg where the trained precision mechanic began his business — the Allrounder 470 H represents the latest generation of Allrounder IMMs. The new press is
available in Comfort and Premium versions, with an Ultimate version slated to come out later.
Now a company of about 3,600 employees, Arburg grew from Hehl’s work at his shop, where by 1926, he was manufacturing surgical instruments. During World War II, his son, Karl Hehl, came up with the company name, and after the war, Arburg began making metal products. In 1954, Karl Hehl developed a small IMM for his own use in overmolding parts. Arburg participated in its first K Show five years later.
The company celebrated its first three anniversary events in February, inviting about 1,200 guests from 32 countries. It planned to display Allrounder 470 H models as it continued the celebration from March 8-11 at its Anniversary Days.
According to the press release about the Allrounder 470 H, Frohnhaus said, “The new generation of machines incorporates many technical innovations that are only available from Arburg.”
The Allrounder 470 H has been designed so that its hydraulic secondary axes can move simultaneously.
To make space for peripheral equipment, the control manifold and hydraulic accumulator technology have been moved inside the Allrounder 470 H, and the pneumatic and central lubrication systems are on the operating side, providing flexibility on the rear side of the machine. Arburg also has separated the hydraulic and water media circuits — located in the machine base — and electrical circuits to simplify assembly, service and conversion.
The machine’s features include predictive maintenance capabilities, and a patent is pending for its new oil-management system.
Arburg says the IMM is user-friendly and reliable.
“In the new Allrounder 470 H, we have created precisely the hybrid machine that users need today and in the future; a machine that has not yet been available on the market in this form,” said Gerhard Böhm, managing director for sales and service.
Karen Hanna, senior staff reporter
Contact:
Arburg Inc., Rocky Hill, Conn., 860-667-6500, www.arburg.com/en
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.
