MACHINERY | ROBOTS & AUTOMATION
Right: Broanmain’s new machine has an electric screw motor as standard and includes a cartesian robot
software at no extra cost, Haitian says that a manufacturer like Broanmain could expect a return of investment within the year. “We intentionally selected this 320-tonne machine to provide extra manufacturing capacity and mould larger components. The automation option was essential for handling 1kg parts,” said Thomas Catinat, operations manager at Broanmain. He cites a recent study from Gartner, saying that lights out manufacturing is expected to accelerate this year – with 60% of manufacturers expected to have at least two completely lights out processes in 2025. With minimal human intervention required on the new production cell – which already oper- ates staggered early and late shifts – Broanmain believes that automation will augment existing efficiencies. “The focus for us is unlikely to be full lights out
production, but more lights out processes,” he said. “Having a robot – rather than a full-time operative – to take components from the mould delivers a much faster cycle time, with no interruptions. It is also far safer for the workforce.”
Automation showcase At last year’s Fakuma exhibition, Engel showcased a number of its automation solutions – including its Viper linear robots and Easix articulated robots and conveyor systems. Because they integrate seamlessly into Engel
control systems, the company says they enable synchronised movements between the robot and injection moulding machine, leading to reduced cycle times and simplified setup processes. In the company’s Automation Expert Corner at
the show, a Viper 20 dual robot used iQ motion control to optimise cycle times – helping to reduce part removal times by up to 30%. The new combi-
Below: Engel says the use of automated injection moulding cells is growing in the industry
nation hand axes with 48V drive technology are compact, and the integrated vacuum-saving circuit reduces compressed air consumption by up to 90% – which is a critical cost factor in continuous operation. In addition, a new multi-level box transfer allows for quick box changes and is directly integrated into the Engel control system. In a second exhibit, a Viper 4 gave visitors the
opportunity for a hands-on experience. Its simple, intuitive operating philosophy – supported by integrated assistance systems – makes program- ming easy and requires no prior knowledge. It also stands out for its energy efficiency, says the company. Thanks to a vacuum-saving function, the vacuum generator only operates when the vacuum level drops below a certain level, for significant energy savings.
Engel also showcased a bin-picking cell. Here, the separation of bulk parts with complex geom- etries can be time-consuming. Here, a stationary camera was positioned above the bins for part recognition, speeding up analysis and supporting the robot’s task. While the robot is still positioning one part, the camera can identify the next optimally grippable part. Engel said the exhibits showed how intelligent systems can raise the efficiency and flexibility of plastics processing. Prior to this Engel said that – despite a 6% dip in annual sales – it was seeing an increase in demand for customised automation. Customers are increas- ingly looking to automate as many process steps as possible – such as quality checks – directly via the machine. Depending on customer preferences, the automation integrates with the machine to form a high-performance injection moulding cell. “Most of the time we are involved in customer
projects from the start,” said Stefan Engleder, CEO of Engel. “This enables us to respond specifically to
34 INJECTION WORLD | March/April 2025
www.injectionworld.com
IMAGE: ENGEL
IMAGE: BROANMAIN PLASTICS
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