AUTOMATION BROANMAIN PLASTICS
Broanmain Plastics adapts to the automation times
Most industry analysts believe that 2025 will represent the next chapter when automation gets smarter, faster and even more accessible. Testament to this
A
t the end of February 2025, UK-based mass moulder Broanmain Plastics took delivery of a fully automated 320-ton Haitian injection moulding machine featuring a Broanmain’s latest investment is indicative of the wider industry push focused on optimising performance in order to create a smarter, more predictive and sustainable production foundation for the future.
For mass-produced plastic components in
particular, Broanmain is resolutely focused on addressing the scale of the sustainability challenge by reducing waste and being more resource from each unit of raw material and component manufactured at the Dorking facility is maximised. The Generation 5 Mars machine is a servo
hydraulic machine equipped with an electric screw motor as standard. This has a massive impact on screw drive is the most energy hungry phase of the injection moulding process. It is also incredibly quiet and delivers exceptional precision and reliability that mass manufacturers depend upon, reports head of the Haitian UK sales team Veronica Edmunds. machines can save processors like Broanmain over 70% in energy consumption,” said Ms Edmunds. Operations manager Thomas Catinat continued:
“We intentionally selected this particular 320-ton machine to provide extra manufacturing capacity and to mould larger components for a number of
new projects we have won. “Having the automation option was essential for into automation, we very much valued knowing that the whole package was being handled through Haitian.” The weight and aesthetics mean that each part
must be carefully removed from the tool and placed on a conveyor to prevent structural and cosmetic damage. The Hilectro cartesian robot can perform this demoulding task at a consistent pace and rate. Having a choice of end of arm tooling means that the whole cell will be very adaptable to Broanmain’s future production needs, including lights out manufacturing, said Ms Edmunds.
LEVERAGING SCALES OF ECONOMY being wasted or causing unnecessary pollution,” said Broanmain managing director Jo Davis. Before and after energy tests running at the same cycle times will be performed on installation. Because the Generation 5 series includes all the additional hardware, automation and HT-X-tend software extras at no extra cost, Haitian claims that a mass manufacturer like Broanmain could reasonably expect a return of investment within the year.
Attributing this to Haitian’s scales of economy, 38 March/April 2025 Irish Manufacturing
Ms Edmunds added: “The intelligent control system featured on the Generation 5 series can optimise the entire moulding process, ensuring repeatability, in turn extends the entire lifespan of the machine and tooling, reducing wear and tear.” to Euromap 9+. As well as creating cost advantages per unit, the
way to spur economies of scale. For example, moulding machines can also lead to fewer product defects and consequently less material waste, adds Thomas. “This can induce additional cost reductions, which incentivises more deployment of cleaner technology. Creating another cyclical innovation ecosystem.”
VISION OF THE FUTURE According to a Gartner study, 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, and already operating staggered early and late shifts, Broanmain is anticipating that automation will simply augment experience.
www.irish-manufacturing.com
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