Published 4/28/2012

Taiwan Machine Builders Aim for Higher-End Applications

Close Up: Taipei Plas

Mikell Knights

Contributing Editor

A recent trip to Taiwan previewed some of the machinery to be exhibited at Taipei Plas in September. Taiwanese injection machine builders aim to match the performance of European and Japanese all-electric and hybrid machines but at lower cost.

Jon Wai has upgraded the injection speed and pressure capabilities of its new SLIM series of hydraulic machines with electric servo-driven pumps. It is targeting them at more complex applications such as stack and family molds and IML.

Multiplas (represented here by New Pacific Machinery) is introducing this 90-ton V3 vertical all-electric model as a companion to its existing 55-tonner.

Jon Wai will demonstrate rapid heat-cool molding on a new 850-ton two-platen hydraulic press. The 1200-ton model shown here was demonstrated at the China Plas show last month in tandem molding of two 32-in. TV covers. Tandem molding is a relatively new process in Asia.

Queens Machinery is stepping up to five-layer blown film extrusion systems. It will show equipment for 40-50 micron film with nylon barrier layer. Seven- and nine-layer film capability are in development.

SERVING UP SERVO

Fu Chun Shin Machinery Manufacture Co. Ltd., (FCS), the largest Taiwanese exporter of injection presses (fcs.com.tw), will introduce its HA-SV line featuring servomotor pump control of hydraulic
flow and pressure. The unit is based on FCS’s HT line of hydraulic machines designed for housewares and general-purpose products; however, the new line incorporates a number of modifications making it suitable for the U.S. market. And especially interesting to American molders is the new appointment of Maruka USA Inc., Pine Brook, N.J. (marukausa.com), as FCS’s sales agent for North America. Maruka is already known here as the distributor of all-electric machines from Toyo Machinery & Metal of Japan. The new arrangement with FCS gives it a hydraulic line as well.

FCS will offer the HA series in two versions: the HA standard line and the HA-SV servo system, both encompassing 11 models from 33 to 572 U.S. tons. The HA-SV version uses a Japanese (Daikin) servomotor to drive the pump system, while the standard HA version employs an electric variable-frequency motor to drive a variable-displacement pump.

The HA-SV series uses a new closed-loop control system that reportedly delivers faster machine response and shorter cycle times. Its servo-driven pump is said to consume 40% less power than a variable-displacement pump while holding part weight within ±0.4-0.7%. The new injection carriage structure features a guide plate that prevents deflection of the barrel. Maruka and FCS made the global debut of the 165-ton model HA165SV at NPE2012 in Orlando, Fla., last month.

At Taipei Plas, FCS will showcase production of a thick-walled, 130-g acrylic part using its new Hungry Feeder pellet feed-control system. The feeder and a new screw designed for this starve-feeding type of approach are said to minimize silver streaks, voids, sinks, bubbles, and black specks. FCS is showing the system on an HT-SV model together with new Vent Feeding Tube Technology, designed to reduce drying time for materials like PMMA.

Meanwhile, Jon Wai (represented in North America by Industrias Plasticas Maximo in Mexico, maximo.com.mx) redesigned its Thinwall (TW) machine line as its new SLIM series with servo-driven
hydraulic pumps. It will show the new presses with stack and family molds, the former being relatively new to Asian markets. Jon Wai (jonwai.com) says the new line can handle 20% higher pressures up to 170 bar (hydraulic) vs. 140 bar for a similar-sized TW model. Max. injection speed is upgraded to 800 mm/sec from 600 mm/sec previously. The series features Taiwan-built servomotors that are reportedly more powerful than those on comparable Japanese machines yet lower in cost. Jon Wai says its offerings allow mid-sized users with smaller volumes to get involved with higher-end technologies like stack and
family tooling or in-mold labeling.

The new series currently includes 220- and 280-ton models, though it will range from 150 to 480 tons. At Taipei Plas, the 220-tonner will run a 2+2 margarine tub and lid in a stack mold from Nypro of Clinton, Mass., with a cycle time of 2.8 sec. At NPE2012 in Orlando, Jon Wai showed the 280-ton SLIM model
with a 1+1 ice-cream tub and lid family mold and IML robot running at a 3.8-sec cycle.

Lien Yu Machinery Co. (ly-inj.com.tw) offers its new hybrid SV toggle series with a Taiwan-built servomotor and gear pump that are said to perform comparably to European brands at a cost less than
European and Japanese models. The SV line will span 75 to 2300 tons.

Multiplas (multiplas.com.tw), represented here by New Pacific Machinery, Trenton, Tenn., (newpacific@prodigy.net) is expanding in vertical, all-electric machines, adding a new 90-ton model to the existing 55-tonner in the V3E toggle line. Users can select horizontal or vertical injection and rotary-table options. The company is also rolling out the EMH050T, a 50-ton all-electric horizontal press with 570 mm daylight and up to 300 mm/sec injection.

TWO-PLATEN PROGRESS

Jon Wai will demonstrate a new area of competence at Taipei Plas—injection-compression molding combined with a rapid heat/cool (RHCM) mold. These capabilities will be demonstrated in running a 32-in. ABS television cover on a new 850-ton two-platen model—the part usually needs a 1300-ton press. Conformal heating/cooling channels in the tool allow for rapid
cooling of the part and a high-gloss surface.

Jon Wai demonstrated tandem molding at last month’s ChinaPlas show, producing 32-in. ABS television covers in a 1+1 tool on a 1200-ton JW-1200TP press. Although the 442-g front cover has a 35-sec cycle, and the 1371-g back cover requires 55 sec, overlapping the cycles with a tandem mold reduces overall cycle time to produce a front/back set in 65 sec. At Taipei Plas, Jon Wai hopes to trim the weight of the back cover to 900 g and expects to further shorten the overall cycle. Jon Wai says parts having up to a 30% difference in weight can be molded using a tandem or family mold approach, while reducing overall costs up to 40%.

Jon Wai is rolling out two-color (TC) injection presses with wider platens. A new 250-ton, two-color 250 TCW press at Taipei Plas will feature a platen measuring 1205 x 760 mm (H x V), which is wider than the standard TC model. The new unit will produce 10-in. H-P tablet covers from ABS and TPU on a 1+1 mold.

FCS added a new 850-tonner to its two-platen LM series, filling in a range spanning 650 to 3700 tons. The new model will be demonstrated with FCS’s gas-assist system to produce a 5.5-lb child’s car seat.

FCS also has developed a 1420-ton press in its HB-R line for multi-component applications. A larger
2000-ton version is being developed.

Lien Yu will unveil its new H-series of two-platen machines featuring servo-driven hydraulics. The series ranges from 1100 to 2300 tons and features a new servomotor design.

BLOWN FILM, BAGS & BOTTLES

Queens Machinery (queens.com.tw), a producer of blown film lines and printing and bagmaking machines, will show several new offerings at Taipei Plas. Queens will unveil new multi-layer blown film capability in production of 40-50 micron, five-layer structures featuring nylon barrier layers. The coextruded structure replaces lamination, and the barrier film has a ready use for meats or seafood.
Queens says that seven-layer and nine-layer systems for hard-to-combine materials are in development. Queens will also unveil a shorter oscillating film tower for use in factories with restricted vertical space. The tower is 600 mm shorter than conventional sizes, and is typically matched with the company’s redesigned
chilled-air system, which provides 68-77 F air for higher throughputs.

At Taipei Plas, Queens will demonstrate its new Meta-Q high-speed extruder, which processes 1100 to 1320 lb/hr and is designed as the primary substrate extruder in three-layer coextrusions. Screw and barrel
are designed for quicker changeovers.

Queens also has a new auto thickness control with a contact sensor on one of the film rollers. The company will roll out its FDW Jumbo-Type winder, designed to run three-layer structures 2.5 meters wide
at 100 m/min, as well as a new machine for small t-shirt bags.

Hemingstone Machinery (hemingstone.com), will show two new developments at Taipei Plas. It will display its first eight-color, central-impression flexographic printer, which will use water-based inks. Eight-color technology is well known worldwide, but the company believes the price point of a Taiwan-built machine (50-60% lower than other sources) can find buyers.

Hemingstone will also debut its H1100TR high-speed, fully automatic, coreless bag maker. It features a special knife and cutter design that can produce four rolls of 50 t-shirt bags a minute (200 punches/min).

Fong Kee International Machinery (fki.com, represented by Hollo Plastics Equipment Inc., Northfield, Ohio) will show off new extrusion and blow molding systems. In extrusion, the company has a new screw and controls for a sheet line producing 350 meters/min.

In blow molding, Fong Kee will introduce a smaller, high throughput, multihead machine based on its HBA continuous-extrusion series. The new model is designed to mold shampoo bottles under 1.5 liter. There’s also a new control system that allows for remote machine control through a secure internet link.