Liquid Molding Systems Inc. (LMS; Midland, MI) has added the e-max liquid-silicone-rubber (LSR) equipped injection molding machine that Engel (York, PA) displayed at its booth during NPE2009 (June 22-26; Chicago). LMS, which produces close-tolerance elastomeric valve dispensing and flow-control products, including patented one-way and bi-directional valves, was interested in the system prior to the show, and when it learned it would be on display at McCormick, it went ahead and placed the order, with the machine shipped the week of July 20, according to Engel. LMS operates other Engel LSR systems and felt the machine’s energy efficiency, compact footprint, and flexibility was a good fit. An Engel spokesperson told PlasticsToday that the Engel e-max 200/110 is equipped with a 30-mm water-cooled barrel and screw assembly; dosing valve and barrel shut-off nozzle interfaces; eight mold heat zones; and a demolding device and valve-gate circuit control. "We have other electric machines, and were interested in staying with the energy-efficiency of an all-electric machine, combining it with Engel's LSR competence," Justin Sessink, LMS sales and marketing coordinator, said in a release. "This purchase is also consistent with our environmental sustainability objectives."
Part of the AptarGroup (Crystal Lake, IL) family of companies, LMS designs and manufactures components for food and beverage, hygiene/personal care, medical device, recreation/sports, child care, packaging, and housewares. In March, LMS announced the purchase of a Toshiba 110-ton all-electric machine, saying the addition would allow it to produce valve subcomponents in-house. The company operates a Class 10,000, ISO 13485-certified cleanroom, which, by the end of 2009, it planned to double, adding three or four new presses to support double-digit growth in the medical market. The company also serves consumer and commercial end-markets. Introduced in North America in 2008, Engel’s e-max is available in sizes from 55 to 200 tons, with the 55-ton machine boasting a footprint of only 12 by 4 ft. —[email protected]
