North Carolina molder doubles down on electric molding machines

It was only two years ago that Bright Plastics, a diversified art-to-part custom molder located in Greensboro, NC decided on its first all-electric molding machine, a 60-ton Engel e-motion. That purchase was recently joined in Bright's cleanroom by two new, larger, and different models of all-electric machine.

The two new molding systems are also from Engel, 110- and 200-ton models of that company's more recently introduced e-max series of all-electric presses. The three all-electric presses are housed in a 2000-ft² Class 8 (100,000) cleanroom and are busy making precision optical products and extremely tight-tolerance electronics components.

After ISO 9001- and 13485-certified Bright Plastics decided on all-electric molding machines for its Class 8 cleanroom, it chose a 60-ton e-motion and two e-max machines (110 and 200 tons) from Engel.

"We wouldn't have these projects in here without our Engel all-electrics," says Joe Vest, who handles engineering and technical sales for Bright Plastics. "As built, they are extremely repeatable and they hold tolerances very well, which are key performance features for the types of parts we're running on them."

Vest says that when it came time to add machines in the cleanroom, Bright Plastics decided on all-electrics. "We originally went for the e-motion because of the type of part we were running at that time, and because we needed something that could handle small shot sizes, and a machine that was both repeatable and quick. This machine's performance is excellent-the e-motion can do virtually anything you want it to."

Vest describes the Engel two e-max machines, which occupy a lower price point than the e-motion series, as less complicated and a bit more simplified than the e-motion. "I have to add, though," he says "that, personally, I really like the e-max's controller. It's very easy to use."

Certified to ISO 9001 and 13485, Bright Plastics runs a variety of materials from LDPE and ABS to acrylics and other engineering thermoplastics. Employees number 75 and they are running 25 molding machines spanning 60- to 1100-ton clamps. Markets are just as varied and include consumer products, diagnostics, consumer and technical packaging, and security systems, among others. The company's annual sales average between $9 and $11 million.