Mobil – Plastics Guide 2018
4 Hydraulic fluid benefits
It is easy to forget about the importance of hydraulic fluids as they operate out of sight. However, their role in injection moulding machines is vital – that’s why plastics processors should take time to understand the benefits of switching to a high performance formulation. Making an informed choice of hydraulic fluid can improve efficiency, save money and boost cycle times – further advancing your operation to Industry 4.0.
4.1 Cold start Identifying efficiencies in your plant can reveal some surprising areas for improvement. Even established practices, such as start-up times for injection moulding machines, present opportunities for change.
A manufacturer of plastic components for
the automotive industry switched its injection moulding machines to Mobil DTE 10 Excel™
46 hydraulic fluid. The high performance fluid’s enhanced viscosity index (VI) cut the need to pre-warm it at equipment start-up, while its
formulation reduced friction. These features resulted in average energy savings of 3.7%.
To start an injection moulding machine, the
hydraulic fluid must be heated to ≈ 50°C to ensure it has the correct viscosity to properly flow and protect components. This is why sites spend hours and a great deal of energy getting the fluid up to the right temperature. Many processors heat the hydraulic fluid by pumping it around the machine (rather than using external heaters or a heat source within the fluid tank). This process takes around two hours and costs ≈ €10-15 per machine in electricity. Hydraulic injection moulding machines use ≈ 75% of their operating energy when idling with no platen movement. Using a high performance lubricant with a high viscosity index enables operators to start their
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