IPF show: Fanuc casts its net to capture auto, packaging applications

By its own admission, Fanuc (At the Foot of Mt. Fuji, Japan) traditionally focuses on high precision, high added value applications centered on the electronics sector but at the recent IPF show, two machine exhibits hinted of aspirations to play a greater role in other sectors.

300-tonne Fanuc injection press targets packaging sector.

A 100-tonne Roboshot S-2000i100B injection press operating on the show floor was molding PBT connectors in what Fanuc described as a demonstration of lower running cost and energy saving for the cost-sensitive auto sector. "We wanted to show that leveraging our experience in energy recovery [from servomotor operation], our all-electric injection machines can operate 10-15% more efficiently compared with other all-electric machines," says Fanuc Senior Development Engineering Satoshi Takatsugi. Fanuc also highlighted a feature on the machine that reduces the maximum amount of electricity required for machine start-up, which is used to heat up the injection barrel. "This is achieved merely by heating the barrel more slowly, taking 40 minutes in the process, but as a result the injection shop can operate using a smaller transformer."

Fanuc's foray into packaging is being led by the 300-tonne Roboshot S-2000i300B, which was molding food cups from polystyrene in a cycle time of 3.7 seconds using a six-cavity mold. "We can actually shoot at 3.5 seconds but are limited here by the robot take-out time," says Takatsugi.-[email protected]