Among the many attractions in injection molding exhibits at NPE2012 were more intelligent robots with higher speeds and payload capacities

Here it is in one sentence: Unit costs can be reduced through customer-specific automation.

Six-axis, jointed-arm robots are gaining popularity in molding for their extreme flexibility and ability to perform a number of operations within a single press cycle.

A large German manufacturer of hoses, cable ducts, and other extruded automotive components recently expanded its activities into the white-goods appliance sector.

A new press for molding micro-size parts from liquid silicone rubber comes from Engel North America, York, Pa.

A new automated trimming system from Rimrock Corp., Columbus, Ohio, is claimed to boost productivity and reliability.

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.

The question John Winzeler keeps asking is, “How do you take the next step?” In the last two decades, he has transformed the Chicago metal-stamping company he inherited from his father into a high-tech specialty molding business focused only on plastic gears.

A graphical user interface with simpler programming for six-axis robots is new from Kuka Robotics Corp., Clinton Township, Mich.

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.

Kuka Robotics Corp., Clinton Township, Mich., offers a new injection molding function package that allows customers to integrate its six-axis robots with any injection press with reduced installation and engineering time.