KraussMaffei Corp. (USA), Florence, Ky., recently announced the U.S. introduction of its newest press series, the GX line of two-platen machines from 400 to 650 tons.

KraussMaffei Berstorff, Florence, Ky., has optimized its ZEUT-R twin-screw extruder series by adding features to allow processing of compounds with up to 80% filler.

In late September, Onex Corp., a Toronto-based private-equity firm, agreed to acquire the  KraussMaffei Group of Germany for around $735 million from Madison Capital, which had owned KraussMaffei since 2006.

A thermoplastic composite technology that emerged just a couple of years ago promises to make dramatic strides within the next two years in automotive mass production of structural components.

In response to a trend to use more recycled materials and fillers in window-profile extrusion, new coextrusion systems from KraussMaffei Berstorff, Florence, Ky., are designed with flexibility and space savings in mind.

A May open house in Germany saw the global introduction of the GX series of hydromechanical, two-platen presses from KraussMaffei Technologies GmbH (U.S. office in Florence, Ky.). These machines from 400 to 650 metric tons feature the new fast-acting GearX clamping units mounted behind the moving platen and the new GuideX platen guide shoe with an “intelligent fixed bearing joint” to maintain platen parallelism.

More speed, more power, more precision, and more automated functions accomplished in and out of the mold. That’s exactly what injection machinery suppliers were offering at NPE2012.

Hot buttons at the show will be multi-component molding, in-mold labeling/decorating (IML/IMD), in-mold assembly, medical molding, liquid silicone rubber (LSR), micro-molding, and high-speed packaging.

The world’s largest injection machine equipped for the MuCell microcellular foam molding process (above) was started up in December at the technical center of Mürdter, a German molder and moldmaker in Mutlangen.

The German parent of KraussMaffei Corp., Florence, Ky., has come out with the smallest model in its MX hydraulic two-platen series, aimed at high-productivity molding of caps and closures with high-cavitation and stack molds.

An advanced injection system for molding and assembling multiple components in one machine and mold will be demonstrated at the Fakuma show in Germany later this month.

High-speed machines for clean room medical and packaging.

A high-gloss surface equivalent to automotive Class-A solid molding can now be achieved with the weight savings and other benefits of microcellular foam molding, thanks to a new licensing agreement between Trexel Inc., Waltham, Mass., and Ono Sangyo Co.

One of the materials trends hailed at this month’s K 2010 show in Dusseldorf was the replacement of plastic-metal “hybrid” composites with all-plastic “organic hybrids” in structural parts for automotive and other markets.

The world’s largest plastics show, coming up next month in Dusseldorf, Germany, provides ample evidence of the growing sway of electric drive technology in injection molding.

Show goers will see an electric injection machine in nearly every press maker’s booth this year, and electric/hydraulic hybrids in several.

In between all-electric and hydraulic-powered injection machines, a new species of hybrid clamp has emerged. Advocates say it combines the best qualities of electric servos and hydraulics without their disadvantages.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: One new product that didn’t make it into this month’s report on the Fakuma show in Germany was a series of Ultra injection units for EX all-electric presses from KraussMaffei Corp., Florence, Ky.

Beltless direct-drive electric machines and upgraded electric/hydraulic hybrids were introduced at the 20th Fakuma trade exhibition in Friedrichshafen, Germany, last month.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Evonik Industries, in cooperation with KraussMaffei, has established the CoverForm Competence Center in Darmstadt, Germany, headquarters for Evonik’s Performance Polymers business unit and Evonik Rohm GmbH, supplier of acrylic monomers and polymers. (U.S. counterpart is Evonik Cyro LLC, Parsippany, N.J.) CoverForm is a jointly developed technology for applying functional coatings onto plastic parts inside the injection mold.

Though it grabs a lot of headlines, multi-material, multi-shot processing still makes up only about 10% of injection molding activity in North America.

New injection machinery at the show ranged from all-electric units for high-speed packaging or bioplastic processing to hybrid presses ready for the cleanroom. Other units highlighted multi-component molding with LSR and thermoplastics or super-compact presses for small parts. Several new machines targeted specific applications such as caps and closures, PET preforms, LSR, or integrated long-glass compounding.

If a better machine can help your company beat challenging economic conditions, you’ll probably find it at NPE. And finding it will be easier, thanks to our editors’ efforts to sift out of some 2000 exhibits the most significant news in injection and blow molding, extrusion, compounding, and thermoforming.

A new 80-mm-diam. screw designed to plasticate larger volumes of thermoset resins is new from KraussMaffei Corp., Florence, Ky.

The ClassiX series of hydraulic injection presses from KraussMaffei Corp., Florence, Ky., has been expanded with a new model that is now the largest in the line.

A lower-priced line of all-electric toggle presses for general-purpose use is new from KraussMaffei Corp., Florence, Ky.

KraussMaffei in Germany (U.S. office in Florence, Ky.) is building a larger version of its QuickSwitch fully automatic, adjustable calibrator for pipe diameters from 250 to 450 mm OD.

The combination of an injection molding press and a twin-screw compounding extruder represents a new paradigm for processors: They create their own materials as they mold them.

In the injection molding process, tool temperature is an important factor in achieving high-quality parts.

A completely redesigned die for three-layer PVC foam-core pipe now makes pipe up to 500 mm diam. at throughputs up to 3300 lb/hr.

In addition to the news reported in our September K Show preview (see Learn More), previously unrevealed developments in Dusseldorf include several ingenious devices designed to save energy, reduce wear, and safeguard compounded material properties.

Dramatic production demonstrations of cast and blown film set throughput records on the show floor in Dusseldorf.

If you were looking for a new machine to mold micro- or mega-sized parts, multiple materials, long fibers, high-speed/high-cavitation packaging, exotic multi-material combinations with compounding on the machine, or just a cost-effective press for general-purpose use—K 2007 had it all.

Custom backlighting with color-converting plastics and robotic extrusion of door seals won two categories of the 37th Innovation Awards presented in November by the SPE Automotive Div.

Liquid silicone rubber is breaking out of its niche into a broader array of applications, helped by new developments in materials, machinery, and processing. Larger parts, micro-parts, foams, and multi-color or multi-material combinations are key areas of innovation.

A new system for heating molds much faster by electromagnetic induction is being used by Germany's KraussMaffei (U.S. office in Florence, Ky.), with its Long-Fiber Injection (LFI) process.

Compounding machinery news at the K Show next month focuses on more torque, more output, and sometimes both, for kneaders, mixers, and twin-screw extruders.

It’s all about higher speeds and higher outputs at this year’s “K” show in Germany.

At the big “K” Show next month, top billing goes to new all-electric machines aimed at every segment of the market, from general-purpose to high-end.

A brand-new line of all-electric machines priced on par with comparable hydraulic presses and the first public demonstration of insert molding RFID chips into plastic parts will be two highlights of the Engel display at the mammoth K 2007 show in Dusseldorf, Germany, this October.

If you were buying an injection molding machine 20 years ago, you had to decide between a toggle or fully hydraulic clamp and that was pretty much it.

Wood-plastic composite (WPC) profiles are made by two main approaches.

Mannesmann Plastics Machinery GmbH, Munich, the world’s largest maker of plastics and rubber machinery, announced a restructuring of its operations.

The drive to eliminate secondary operations is pushing multi-shot injection molding a step farther—toward assembling separate components in the tool via snap-fits, welding, and co-molding of incompatible materials.

Krauss-Maffei Corp., Florence, Ky., recently opened its Detroit Competence Center in Novi, Mich., intended to provide increased local support for polyurethane processors serving automotive and specialty markets.

Long-glass reinforcements and structural blow molding accounted for four of this year’s nine SPE Automotive Innovation Awards, presented last month in Detroit.

A 220-ton hydromechanical, two-platen model has been added to the CX line of presses from Krauss-Maffei Corp., Florence, Ky.

Though not widely popular, induction heating has long had its advocates as an efficient method of heating plastics molds.

At the Fakuma show in Germany this month, Krauss-Maffei (U.S. office in Florence, Ky.) will add a 220-ton model to its CX line of two-platen presses, which previously ranged from 38 to 176 tons.Krauss-Maffei Corp. 7095 Industrial Road P.O.

Injection molding robots introduced at NPE pushed the work envelope for speed, reach, payload capacity, ease of programming, and ability to handle more sophisticated tasks.

Advances in electric drive technology were evident in nearly every injection machine builder’s booth in Chicago.

Mannesmann Plastics Machinery (MPM) GmbH in Munich, Germany, the world’s largest maker of plastics and rubber processing machinery, is being purchased by Madison Capital Partners, a Chicago investment group, together with MPM managers.

The new factor in extrusion machinery at this NPE is the influx of Asian suppliers.

Energy-saving all-electric machines will continue to be a big draw at NPE, where new designs or upgraded models will be found in virtually every press maker’s booth.

There is only a small contingent of NPE exhibitors in the thermosets and composites segment, but they will discuss several new advances, particularly in materials.

This emerging market promises to be big but challenging. Polycarbonate car windows require specialized machinery, high-end processing capability, premium polymers, advanced coating technologies, and innovative mold and runner designs.

Two affordable hot-water temperature-control units are new from Single Temperiertechnik in Germany, represented here by Krauss-Maffei Corp., Florence, Ky.

The Reaction Process Machinery Div. of Krauss-Maffei in Germany and Florence, Ky., is expanding its product line to include molds for PUR products.

Commercial applications in hollow-part molding with water—or water and gas—are starting to accelerate. They are driven by recent enhancements of process technology, equipment, and materials.

Multi-shot and coinjection molding techniques are staking out new territory. Mach ines are getting larger and are combining more materials or colors in more sophisticated and imaginative ways.

The show was packed with new equipment for pipe and profile, including extruders re­designed for higher outputs and/or lower cost, plus new ways to adjust die and calibrator diameters or switch dies and calibrators more quickly.

Molders were treated to a trove of injection machinery introductions geared toward applications from micro-molding to packaging to large parts.

A three-stage injection process involving nylon, polypropylene, and water assist was demonstrated at the recent K 2004 show in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Injection molded parts are typically demolded with simple pick-and-place automation—a top-mounted, gantry-style (also called Cartesian, linear, or traversing) three-axis robot.

At K 2004, at least a half-dozen European machine builders will show new direct-drive extruders running gearless—or nearly gearless—drives with substantially higher rpm and output rates than conventional extruders of the same size.

The diversity of electric machines will be on display at this year’s show, with several new all-electric versions in direct-drive and belt-driven versions.

Although more widely used in Europe, in-mold laminating is gaining a foothold in U.S. automotive interiors. Molders can choose from a handful of different process technologies that promise labor and other cost savings.

Thermoformers are gaining a foothold in large exterior panels of specialized automobiles and utility vehicles.

Europe's third largest automotive molder, Faurecia, uses five different long-glass thermoplastic molding processes, more than any other molder in the world. It invented half of them, including the world's first in-line compounding- and-injection process.

These two show-goers found what they needed at NPE.

Visitors to NPE can get a taste of how the Internet will serve as a gateway connecting processors to their process or linking customers to their orders.

The abundance of injection molding news at this year’s show is staggering.

It doesn’t matter whether you extrude blown or cast film, sheet, pipe, profiles, or foam—the K 2001 show held something exciting and unexpected that will open your eyes to new possibilities.

The October show in Dusseldorf saw an onslaught of new all-electric and hybrid-electric presses, with modular designs, new clamping styles, and new sizes available from an ever-growing range of suppliers.

All-electric machines will be one of the biggest themes in injection molding machinery at this year’s K show, where at least nine firms will bring out their first models.

The abundance of injection molding news at this year’s show is staggering. There are more and bigger all-electric machines than ever, including first-time introductions by several suppliers. Electric technology is also taking new forms, such as beltless drives and “direct-pressure” clamping without a toggle. Energy-saving electro-hydraulic hybrids are also evolving.

Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) has come a long way over the past two decades. From its roots in a few specialty applications where premium physical properties counted more than the premium price, this thermoset carved out a small but solid niche in the medical and automotive fields. Now, among a proliferation of new applications, that niche has begun to burst at the seams.

The big news at K'98 was some unique multi-screw machines for processing filled, colored, and recycled compounds. One of these machines has five screws, and another has 12. Still another has several grooved rolls instead of screws.

K'98 showed off a wide range of technologies that cut costs by consolidating process steps.