Photo by BMB BMB eKW28Pi/1300 injection moulding machine.
A fast-cycling injection moulding machine shown at Fakuma 2015 in Germany by Italy-based BMB is representative of its comprehensive range of fully electric machines.
“BMB has put a lot of investment into R&D. We now have the largest all-electric machine in the market, at up to 2,200 tonnes,” said Nigel Baker, managing director of BMB Plastics Machinery, the group’s UK and Ireland business.
The eKW range of fully electric machines includes units in various sizes, starting at 100 tonnes and topping out at 2,200 tonnes.
At Fakuma, BMB demonstrated an eKW28Pi/1300 machine, which has 280 tonnes clamp force. It moulded a rectangular PP lid with IML, weighing 8.2 g, in a cycle time of 4.2 seconds.
The all-electric clamp system has a patented toggle design, that uses an external crosshead and two roller drives instead of the usual single pull screw. “With its precise movements and robust platen set up, longevity of mould performance with reduced wear is easily achievable with normal mould maintenance procedures,” says BMB.
Baker highlighted the benefits of all-electric machines over hydraulics, including lower energy consumption and reduced noise. The machine shown at Fakuma uses 40% less energy than an equivalent hydraulic machine.
“The range lends itself to the medical, packaging, caps, technical and also automotive sectors,” said Baker.
He also highlighted the flexibility of the production cell on show, with the 4-cavity mould, IML system and automation provided and integrated by H. Mu?ller-Fabrique de Moules, based in Switzerland. IML labels are supplied by Verstraete IML, based in Belgium.
Mu?ller’s new 6-axis Flexstar robot is suited to low volume to mid-size runs, where there are frequent changes in jobs, labels and formats.
Depending on whether the products are gated from the inside or from the outside, labels can be inserted into the cavity and finished parts removed from either the stationary or the moveable half of the mould.
