Golden electric series for energy-efficient molding

About 7,100 guests from 55 countries attended the highly successful Arburg Technology Days 2016 from 16 to 19 March. At the company headquarters in Lossburg, they were offered an overview of new products, industry trends, complex turnkey solutions and technical innovations. 

 

More than 41 percent of visitors came from outside Germany this year. The largest overseas contingents, with over 190 and 120 participants, came from the USA and China. The largest numbers of European guests were brought along by the subsidiaries Switzerland (around 230), France (around 220), Poland (around 150) and Italy (around 120).

 

Arburg Technology Days attracts visitors from the international plastics community. Since 1999, the company  has welcomed over 73,800 visitors to Lossburg, according to Michael Hehl, Managing Partner and Spokesperson for the Arburg Management Team. 

 

Focusing on production efficiency and Industry 4.0, Arburg offered a worldwide-unique overview of injection molding technology, additive manufacturing and the topic of Industry 4.0 in plastics processing, with around 50 exhibits, the Efficiency Arena and the special service area. Specialist presentations and factory tours rounded off the event.

 

The highlight  of the event was the world première of the new  Golden Electric series. With the Golden Electric series, Arburg is continuing the success story of the hydraulic Golden Edition entry-level series. The new Allrounders are designed to meet customer demands for high-performance entry-level machines for the precise, energy-efficient production of sophisticated molded parts. Thanks to the use of standardized components, the new machines feature high-quality proven Arburg technology "Made in Germany" at an attractive price/performance ratio. They are available in four sizes with clamping forces from 600 to 2,000 kN.

 

 

At the event, three Freeformers also demonstrated the production of interesting materials including a medical polylactide, a bio-degradable polyamide and an elastic, high-performance TPE combined with PP as a two-component application. The additive manufacturing machines now feature an optimized build chamber, a further enhanced discharge system and an optional material dryer.

 

In the Efficiency Arena, a fourth Freeformer was linked with an injection molding cell via a seven-axis robotic system. "Industrie 4.0  powered by Arburg was the theme. The fully automated and IT networked production line demonstrated how it will be possible to develop new business models in the future based on aspects of Industry 4.0. A second exhibit was also used to demonstrate the fully traceable production of batch-specific bulk goods, from finished high-volume product back to the granulate.

 

Many new and innovative applications were also presented. Arburg presented the new Profoam physical foaming technique, using a glove compartment door made from PC/ABS as an example of efficient lightweight construction. A variotherm mold temperature control enabled a high-gloss surface to be produced despite the use of a foaming technique. The part, which is specifically designed for foaming, weighs 200 grams, around 30 percent less than a comparable compact part.