KraussMaffei to hold Open House in the US

The KraussMaffei Group is using the opportunity provided by the annual open house in Florence, Kentucky to showcase its portfolio on 15 May 2014. The Injection Molding segment is presenting various KraussMaffei injection molding solutions particularly suited for the US market.  

The packaging sector represents a major focal area for the open house this year. KraussMaffei is demonstrating the fully automated production of a ? gallon bucket made from polypropylene for the first time together with Top Grade Molds, a mold manufacturer from Toronto. The machine side consists of a GX 451-4300 with 4500 kN of clamping force. The mold has two cavities. An integrated LRX 250 linear robot handles parts removal. All of the components are precisely matched to each other, enabling a cycle time of 9 seconds. The enlarged clamping platens of GX injection molding machines provide the ideal basis for packaging application. "KraussMaffei's GX series represents a development in injection molding machinery that is extremely fast and stable when operated together with our molds for thin-walled packaging parts," says Vince Ciccone, President of Top Grade Molds.

Together with RocTool, from Charlotte, NC, KraussMaffei is also presenting an application capable of creating a name plate with a curved surface and without any weld lines. It is made of a PC/ABS blend and comes out of the mold with a class A surface in a cycle time of 25 seconds. "This application is a particular highlight for our presentation," explains Paul Caprio, President of KraussMaffei Corporation, the US subsidiary. "We are demonstrating the product on a CX 110-380 injection molding machine with 1100 kN of clamping force. Our machine and the RocTool mold form one perfectly tuned unit." The special aspects of the technology stem from the mold technology in this case. Both mold-halves are heated to the desired temperature using electromagnetic fields and then cooled back down using water circulation after the injection process. The entire process flows very quickly and is energy-efficient. This mold technology avoids the creation of any surface flow lines or connecting seams, resulting in outstanding product surfaces without the need for painting or laminating.

Consumer goods and medical technology as targets

KraussMaffei is showcasing a hinge adapter made from a PPE blend on a standard CX 80-180 injection molding machine on a four-cavity mold from the new partner Advance Mold, based in Manchester, CT. The shot weight is just under 3.3 grams with a cycle time of 15 seconds. Due to their high resistance to deformation, dimensional stability and dimensional accuracy, PPE blends are favored for molded articles in the automotive, electronics and household goods industries. The processing temperature is normally between 260 °C and 300 °C.

Special highlight: Improved WinCap mold carrier  

As a special highlight, Reaction Process Machinery is showcasing a KraussMaffei WinCap mold carrier from the series revised in 2013 this year for the first time in the US. The electrical mold carriers have been successfully used for years to encase articles such as automotive glass in PU. The more advanced mold carriers offer machine operators improved ergonomics and user-friendliness. Parallel mold carrier movements and high traveling speeds enable short cycle times and high productivity. Other major advantages include simple mold change, low noise and less energy consumption from using electric drives.