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Injection molds will offer star performance during K showInjection molds will offer star performance during K show

Reports are pouring in as to what exhibitors plan to highlight during this fall's big event, and some of the industry's leading injection moldmakers have shared news of their plans as well.

August 4, 2010

3 Min Read
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Reports are pouring in as to what exhibitors plan to highlight during this fall's big event, and some of the industry's leading injection moldmakers have shared news of their plans as well.

Austria's Haidlmair, best known as a leader in manufacture of molds for crates and other re-usable packaging, will showcase its mold technology at three stands at K 2010. The company (Stand 12E49-6) will display new applications and highlight the benefits of its mold systems for containers of all kinds, not just beverage cases or vegetable crates. For example, the company is working to expand its customer base to include molders of component carriers for household appliance or similar boxes for automotive components, such as auto fenders or door hatches. The company will also demonstrate molds for the production of rotating parts, specifically those with large dimensions.

Additionally, Haidlmair will have molds in production at the stand of Wittmann-Battenfeld (16D22), where a mold for a stackable folding box sized 500x400x193 mm will be demonstrated. At Arburg (13A13), a molding cell running a Haidlmair tool will process a thin-wall design container with a complex structured surface. The part's free-form geometry includes undercuts both inside and out.

Another Austrian firm, KTW, also will showcase its molds at three stands at this year's K 2010. In addition to its own exhibition stand, KTW will have production molds in the stands of machinery manufacturers Wittmann-Battenfeld and Sumitomo-Demag.

KTW wants to show how it has evolved from a manufacturer of closure tools into an integrated technology and systems partner. The company provides closure development, including coordination with filling and capping equipment, performance specifications for injection molding systems, application technology consulting services and the handling of complete turn-key installations. KTW makes molds for processing of a wide variety of closures.

KTW (Stand 1A10) recently entered into a partnership with Ritemp Technologies as a way to help its customers increase energy efficiency in production through the development and application of new cooling methods. At K 2010, KTW together with Ritemp will present their contour cooling process to a wider audience.

At Wittmann Battenfeld's stand, a KTW mold will be running to feature the simultaneous production and assembly of a two-part, multi-functional closure for cooking oil bottles. The closure integrates a pull-tab to open the spout, and the spout has an integrated flow retarder, as well as a sealing system. The closure consists of the base, molded of white LDPE, and the associated screw cap made of PP. The mold is a 16x16 cavity stack mold with three mold open heights and two "spin-stack" modules in combination with a Wittmann Battenfeld molding machine.

At Sumitomo Demag's stand (15D22), a 72-cavity mold for a PET bottle closure will be running in an EL-Elexis SP 300/2500 press. The HDPE threaded cap, with tamper ring for non-carbonated mineral water, weighs 1.6 grams and is formed in a cycle time of 2.6 seconds.

During K 2010, Swiss moldmaker Georg Kaufmann Formenbau AG will highlight the use of its molds for production of molded parts with functional surfaces (e.g. self-luminous, transparent, heatable, soft-touch) and/or with integrated capacitive sensors. Kaufmann reports it has further improved its Duo Lamination process for back injection and back injection-compression molding, as well as designed and built a demonstration mold for a variety of applications.

Additionally, the company (Stand 15C24) will present the adaptation of production solutions, which so far have been limited to the automotive industry, for similar plastics processing applications in other markets, such as furniture, sporting goods and household appliances. The possibilities of functional surface design will be demonstrated at K 2010 with four surface ambience-related themes: Ambient Sensors; Ambient Touch; Ambient Lighting, and Ambient Surface. Roger Kaufmann, head of development and sales, says, "Plastic components with functional surfaces and integrated capacitive sensors open up a whole new world of applications—not just in the automotive industry but far beyond."

No doubt more moldmakers will be offering previews in the next weeks, and we will update you as those arrive. Injection molders can with certainty again expect to find the show's floors packed with innovative molding cells. —[email protected]

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