Injection Molding

KraussMaffei (Munich) has concluded its ZuPrEff collaborative injection molding research project, which, the company says, achieved energy savings of up to 35%, exceeding forecast values. "We consider the condition-dependent management of the injection molding process  to have by far the greatest potential for future increases in productivity in injection molding production," said Reinhard Schiffers, head of machine technology and testing at KraussMaffei.

International Automotive Components (IAC, Luxembourg) has debuted its proprietary FastKast A-surface material manufacturing process for automotive skins in Asia. The new facility in Chongqing, China, supplies both the Ford Kuga and Ford Mondeo door panel and floor console assemblies, along with instrument panels, cockpits modules, finish trim panels and ducts for the Ford Mondeo.

Outsourcing partners--such as injection molders of medical plastics--will play an increasingly important role as device manufacturers continue to restructure and downsize their own manufacturing capabilities, says Venkat Rajan, industry manager-medical devices for Frost & Sullivan.

The critical factors for supply chain partners will be:

1.  Reliability,

2.  Experience in medical design,

3.  Organizational stability,

4.  Functional performance,

5.  Price,

6.  Strategic design expertise, and

Thailand is a major global manufacturer of motor vehicles, turning out 2,453,717 passenger and commercial vehicles in 2012 according to the ASEAN Automotive Federation. This represents an incredible 68% year-on-year increase compared with the flood-affected 2011. It's enough to make injection molding machinery suppliers stand up and take notice as evidenced by a Japanese machine builder's plans to manufacture machines there.

Lanxess (Leverkusen, Germany) has opened an Asia-Pacific Application Development Center for its high-tech plastics in the Hong Kong Science & Technology Park. Run by the High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit, it will provide comprehensive and high-value services ranging from concept development support, computer-aided design, computer-aided engineering and mold-design assistance to part test applications for the automotive industry and other segments.

Calling it the industry's largest servo hybrid co-injection molding machine, Milacron will be running a 1500-ton MAXIMA press developed in conjunction with co-injection expert Bemis at its 2013 open house (April 24-25; Batavia, OH). In addition to allowing molders to sandwich scrap resin within virgin material, the servodriven coinjection device uses less than half the energy of a comparable 1500-ton hydraulic.

When Plante & Moran LLC, a certified accounting, tax and business consulting firm, held a seminar in March regarding manufacturing in Mexico, they were hoping to get 40-50 people. Scott Sneckenberger, partner Global Services for Plante & Moran who led the seminar, told PlasticsToday that they were totally surprised when 87 people showed up for the Detroit-area event.
   

The assets of injection molder Core Systems LLC (Painesville, OH) are set to go up for auction again following the company's February closing after the Whirlpool Corporation terminated its contract with Core. The molder had two plants, one in Mount Gilead, OH and the company's headquarters plant in Painesville, OH.

Global assembly of light vehicles is forecast to reach 82.1 million units this year, representing 4% year-on-year growth. The fortunes of the global industry are split, however, along geographical lines according to the consulting company making the forecast.

An insert molding process employing a co-polyamide adhesion promoter to bond aluminum tubing with fiberglass-reinforced polyamide 6 is being used by Mercedes Benz in several of its vehicles to derive weight savings.

The aluminum tubing employed in the vehicles connects both A-pillars together and supports the entire dashboard—from the steering wheel to the glove compartment. These elements used to be welded or screwed together with metal connecting plates, a stable solution, but one that involves more weight.