Mexican-based Tier I processor expands through Engel machines

Engel (York, PA) is providing assistance to a rapidly expanding supplier to the North American automotive industry; a supplier that has embraced Engel's e-factory 2 manufacturing execution system for enhanced, on-line transparency from the shop-floor to the front-office.

Engel North America, supplied two 440-ton, three 330-ton, and three 200-ton Engel victory series molding machines - all equipped with Engel automation -- to Continental Fuel Supply System Div. (Cd. Juárez, Chih. Mexico), a rapidly expanding ISO-TS16949/ISO14000-certified supplier to the NAFTA original equipment automotive market and the Tier-1 automotive industry.

All Continental's machines are interfaced into their ENGEL e-factory 2 network -- a computer-based, real-time production data acquisition system which ensures optimum, plant-wide productivity.

The new Engel molding systems have been interfaced into Continental's e-factory 2 network - Engel's computer-based, real-time production data acquisition system - to ensure optimum, plant-wide productivity All Continental's molding systems are also equipped with Engel automation including the new Engel viper 12, Engel's integrated conveyor and the extended guarding package. The use of Engel automation makes it much easier for machine operators at Continental - with the robot control fully integrated into the Engel machine, the operator can run both machine and robot through one controller which significantly streamlines operations.

Continental has just completed a relocation to its new 185,000-square foot factory in Juárez. With the consolidation of its previous three facilities under one roof, Continental will increase efficiencies in operations.

At an average of 20-tonnes/month, the Continental Juárez facility primarily processes polyoxymethylene copolymer (POM) resin to produce more than three-million automotive fuel modules and supporting pumps every year. In addition, the company also manufactures some 9-million other custom-molded parts per year. Continental employs 950, including 38 in its molding area and administrative offices.

"We have already received eight new Engel victory molding machines and robots. 'Project A' of our expansion plan has been completed, and the machines are up and running" says Jesus Galvan, Product Group manager of the Continental Juárez molding area. " 'Project B' involves our acquisition of additional equipment for a total of 24 new Engel machine systems. The next phase will begin in at the beginning of 2014, and we will increase our capacity in Juárez little-by-little, one machine system every two-to-three months, until the remaining 16 machines are in place."

Engel molding systems also are run in Continental's manufacturing facilities in Europe and Asia. And Galvan adds that Continental also has plans to start with a vertical integration project (for injection molding) in Salto, Brazil.