| 17/02/2010 - Wittmann Battenfeld UK sees automation growth for plastics manufacturing |
Leading plastics manufacturing equipment supplier Wittmann Battenfeld UK (WIBA UK) reports that automation and robotics is set to play a key part in the forecasted growth for the company this year.
WIBA UK Managing Director, Barry Hill anticipates a 50% year on year growth in sales for the Wellingborough-based company through 2010. ‘There are a number of factors involved – not least belonging to a global group that continues to develop and produce competition-beating equipment at very attractive prices. To be honest, however, most of us in the UK plastics industry agree that market volumes cannot now get much lower. Investment simply has to happen in order for the sector to stay alive. It doesn’t surprise me that the Dec 09 purchasers index for UK manufacturing has risen sharply. Perhaps the currency factor is playing a small part but the reinvestment simply has to happen in order for companies to keep moving and stay in business. Automation spend will always be attractive.’
Wittmann’s new EcoPower injection moulding machine launched at Fakuma three months ago will now provide a handy centrepiece around which many Wittmann robotic and automation developments can cluster. Hill also believes that the Fakuma 09 exhibition was also a watershed for the company’s automation technology. ‘In some ways I was almost taken aback at the appetite of the industry – particularly in Germany, Austria and Central Europe – for our robots. To be fair, superior robotics, bespoke for plastics production, is the bedrock of our company and now in this decade our competitive manufacturing and pricing will really make the inroads it deserves. Our message of ‘superior technology at best prices’ really now seems to have sunk home. The Fakuma fall out and follow through is still happening for us as we prepare to make our biggest presence yet at the triennial Kunststoffe exhibition in Dusseldorf this Autumn.
The Fakuma 09 exhibition also produced a couple of examples of new Wittmann technology that illustrate how close the company listens to its equipment users and customers in plastics moulding manufacturing. The company’s R8 Robot Control now includes two important features called SoftTorque and PartTrack in order to facilitate fault free mouldings at decreased cycle times.
The new SoftTorque Wittmann robot feature helps prevent equipment stress and part damage at the sensitive mould-ejection stage of the automation cycle. The new feature enables the removal of moulded parts not only via pure position control and motion but also to have the part then ‘pushed’ or assisted into the end-of-arm tooling of the robot.
Says Barry Hill ‘SoftTorque has been designed to provide a better alternative to some current systems where the ejectors are deployed to push the whole robot arm, gripper and moulding back. This method not only requires a lot of force from the ejectors, it also puts a considerable strain on robot arm and moulding, with possible damage occurring to moulding. Our new SoftTorque system by contrast ‘feels’ the pressure applied by ejectors and then computes just enough power to exactly synchronise with the ejector movement. This thereby reduces the load on the robot, the gripper and the moulding.
Together with SoftTorque, Wittmann has added the PartTrack programme to the capabilities of its R8 Robot Control. This feature allows the Wittmann Robot to ‘follow’ finished mouldings on conveyors adjacent to the moulding area – or indeed stand alone. The PartTrack function means that the robot’s duties can be extended to such tasks as the stacking or labelling of finished parts. With PartTrack, the Wittmann robot is able to automatically capture and match the speed of the conveying belt. Objects on the conveyor can then be followed at any orientation to the robot and all programming can be done graphically on the Robot Teach In pendant. ‘Again,’ says Hill, ‘this feature allows the intelligent investor to get more out of its overall production – particularly where large volumes are concerned.’
Hill says that Fakuma 09 also saw further refinements made to Wittmann’s automated In Mould Labelling (IML) capabilities. ‘IML is a key area for us as we aim at the high volume, high value end of the market - high speed packaging, high-value medical, healthcare and other sectors.’
The early days of the IML industry saw the construction of large steel-based cages for stability and strength of moulding, but Wittmann research and development has brought the shape and appearance of IML operations more into line with everyday moulding operations. Hill says that ‘for a variety of reasons – design, price, market-need, aesthetics – we see IML as a growth area for us. Customers are now looking to do more with IML and are looking for simple change over systems from one product and label to the next. We are accordingly introducing the W727 Flex system which enables the placement of in-mould labels on the moving as well as fixed platen side, allowing the insertion of three sided, five sided or wrap around labels.’ The Wittmann Flex system is already equipped as standard with ‘Lock and Fix’ mechanics in order to allow a quick change of end-of-arm tooling and label magazine.
And this year’s K 2010 will undoubtedly see Wittmann top the Fakuma 09 based system which showed the company’s TM Xpress 201/1350 produce three varieties of packaging tub – 800, 1180 and 1500 ml – via a modular and flexible two cavity mould. ‘For the change-overs just the inserts and the cores needed to be swapped,’ says Hill, ‘and the total cycle time for the production of the mid-size tub was 5.5 seconds.’
Hill is conscious that robotic and automation takes its place within the full spectrum of all the equipment supplied by the Wittmann Group to plastics manufacturing. ‘It’s impossible to overstate the benefits to us of our one-stop-shop capabilities,’ he says. ‘We can we design, supply and install automation cells with all the extras and ancillary equipment in mind – eg material feed; recycling; granulation; energy use and so on. We can also use our global competitiveness to sharpen the pencil on the overall package prices for the client. And as the EcoPower machine comes more into the mainstream, this synergy will increase even more.’
2009 has seen Wittmann in the UK continue to service and develop business in packaging, healthcare and other parts of plastics manufacturing that have weathered the credit crunch – names such as RPC, Bespak, Superfos, CTP and others. ‘This focus will continue, says Hill.
Another continuing theme for Wittmann and the UK will be energy efficiency and energy cost and energy on automation processes is included in the scope: Hill says that for UK customers, Wittmann Battenfeld UK is working in close association with the Carbon Trust. ‘Part of our process includes site visits to clients in order to measure energy useage and then assist companies in applications for interest free loans – based on the cost and energy saved. With the EcoPower now on board, we have a variety of very attractive deals to offer.’
All further details of Wittmann automation, robotics and products from Barry Hill at Wittmann Battenfeld UK Tel. 01933 275 777 (Mob) 07860 504803 www.wittmann.co.uk |
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