Engel software offers simple path to 15-25% energy savings

announced the introduction of a software option for its CC200 controller that guides operators to choose processing parameters that lead to big-time energy savings of from 15-25% versus a set-up on the exact same machine which was not optimized to account for energy usage of the individual motions. Called the CC200 integrated energy calculator software, the new option is available on all of the company’s machines equipped with its CC200 A02 controllers, which were introduced at the K Show in 2007.

According to Steve Braig, president and CEO of Engel North America, the calculator offers “guidance for the set-up person to adjust parameters—motion parameters, heat zones, and more—to the most energy-efficient settings, without affecting the cycle time.” The energy values are calculated based on oil pressure and volume on hydraulic machines, and motor speeds and torque on all-electric machines.

The operator need only enter the shot weight into the set-up screen and the machine will automatically calculate the energy required to process a part based on other settings (clamp motion, injection, cooling, and such). After a few test cycles, the measured values are compared to a database and the energy consumption calculation is provided in a graphic.

  
Last week, Euromap, which develops plastics processing machinery standards for European manufacturers, introduced a new standard for measuring a molding machine’s energy use. The first of these standards applies only to injection molding machinery, but Euromap also is working on one for extrusion and auxiliary equipment. Peter Neuman, CEO of Engel, said his firm welcomed the new standard and hoped that the SPI in North America also would adopt it, enabling molders to do an apples-to-apples comparison of energy consumption among machine brands. — [email protected]