ENERGY MANAGEMENT | TECHNOLOGY
Manufacturers of injection moulding machinery are
finding new ways to keep energy costs down, while
maintaining quality and increasing production speeds. Mark Holmes looks at some current initiatives
New systems optimise energy consumption
Efficient energy management is essential in the moulding shop to keep costs down and achieve a productive and cost-effective injection moulding operation. Increasingly machinery producers are putting energy saving technology at the forefront of their injection moulding processes. Arburg has developed a number of energy management initiatives for its injection moulding machines. These include an Energy Visualisation module for its host computer system (ALS) that acquires energy data from the injection moulding machine, robotic system and peripherals on a job-specific basis and documents it for systematic energy data evaluation for energy management. The company adds that all Allrounder injection moulding machines are equipped with efficiency class IE3 electric motors and have a number of features that can be adjusted using the Selogica control system to improve energy efficiency. These include automatic switch on/switch to standby, automatic lowering of the cylinder temperature and the deactivation of electric motors and heating
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when the machine is at a standstill. In addition, there is the optional Selogica energy measurement function that allows the machine operator to record and analyse both the average and the periodic power consumption of the running injection moulding process. Whenever the course of the measuring curve shows negative values, it indicates energy recovery. This data allows the machine’s power consumption to be optimised, reducing the energy consumption per moulded part. According to Arburg, electric injection moulding machines can consume up to 70% less energy compared to standard hydraulic drives and includes an energy recovery system. The amount of energy that can be captured by the recovery system varies, depending on the process. Any excess energy is temporarily stored in a capacitor and used later. Should there still be an excess of recovered energy, it can be fed into the grid and used by another injection moulding machine in the plant or returned to the power company. Another example of energy-efficient hydraulic
Main image: The Arburg host computer system (ALS) records and archives process data and is a central tool for production management
May 2018 | INJECTION WORLD 49
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