Netstal will mold needle protectors at Medtec Europe

A 48-cavity mold will be pumping out needle protectors in cycle times just under 5.5 seconds in the Netstal exhibit for the medical market at Medtec Europe (Stuttgart, Germany; Feb. 26-28).

An all-electric ELION 1750-530 designed for cleanroom operations will mold the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) part in a mold made by the Swiss moldmaker Kebo. Other partners in the plastics molding demonstration include Motan (resin handling equipment) and ef-cooling for the chiller.

"The ELION features encapsulated and water-cooled electric motors so that a virtually emission-free operation is guaranteed. Moreover, the processor benefits from the machine's low energy consumption", says Patrick Blessing, manager of Netstal's Business Unit MED. "The applied recovery principle means that braking energy is fed back to the power circuit for supply to further consumers on the machine. Efficiently used, up to 70% of the energy can be saved compared with conventional drive systems. These savings enable our customers to produce more efficiently in the longer term."

The demonstration will take place at the corporate stand (1L04) of the two brands Netstal and KraussMaffei, which supplies the CX- and EX-series for the medical market.

Netstal, which sold its first injection molding machine in 1945, became part of Krauss-Maffei in 1992. The company offered its first electric machine brand, ELION, in 2004. Onex Corp., a Canadian private equity firm, recently completed its acquisition of the Krauss-Maffei Group for $353 million.

Netstal's U.S. offices were recently moved from Devens, MA to Florence, KY as part of an effort to find efficiencies that reduce costs, and to improve collaboration between the group's brands.