IM system debuts as retrofit kit

A new injection molding system from Xaloy Inc. promises better part quality and lower part costs than conventional reciprocating-screw machines. Called Xaloy ICU, the system debuted at NPE 2003 as a retrofit kit for molders' standard machines and as a component package for machinery builders. The ICU uses an extruder with a fixed screw, a separate ram to inject material into the mold, and an injection control unit that works like a shutoff nozzle to control flow and injection sequencing. Packing and hold pressure are generated by the control system's hydraulic system. The fixed-screw extruder delivers a better-mixed, lower-temperature melt at higher throughput rates by employing advanced screw designs originally developed for extrusion. Xaloy Inc., 102 Xaloy Way, Pulaski, VA 24301 www.xaloy.com.