STUTTGART, GERMANY (March 9, 11:50 a.m. ET) — Arburg GmbH & Co. KG entered the market for all-electric injection molding machines later than some of the other major suppliers, but its participation at the Medtec Europe show this month will allow the German company to demonstrate its ability to apply its technology to a key segment for electric machines — the medical sector.
At Medtec, set for March 13-15 March in Stuttgart, Arburg will present a 150-metric ton electric Allrounder 520 A machine with a fully encapsulated stainless steel clamping unit which, it says, “can be cleaned particularly quickly and effectively.”
The Medtec exhibit will use a 16-cavity mold from Ernst Rittinghaus and include a hot runner system from Günther Heisskanaltechnik GmbH, which operates with electrically powered needle shut-off nozzles, adding to the clean working environment. The machine will mold PP collecting tubes, with a part weight of 1.06 grams, in a cycle of 5.8 seconds.
The stainless steel surfaces of the size 400 clamping unit are insensitive to the aggressive agents commonly used during sterilization. Arburg’s other adaptations to enable cleaning are a raised machine base, which is covered on the injection side, and nickel-coated mounting platens with covered holes.
Arburg says the electric Allrounder 520 A meets the highest hygiene requirements in accordance with ISO 13485, as well as the specifications of the FDA and the GMP directives, due to the encapsulated stainless steel clamping unit.
A clean-room module with air ionization is positioned above the machine’s clamping unit to ensure the air is kept as free of particles as possible. The module generates a high level of air circulation via a pre-filter and HEPA filter, as well as neutralizing electrically charged molded parts.
Liquid-cooled drives and control cabinets are standard at Arburg and also aid low-emission production. Only FDA/NSF H1-compliant lubricants are used, the company adds.
The Allrounder presented at Medtec Europe meets the clean room requirements of ISO classes 5 to 7.
As well as its hydraulic, hybrid and electric Allrounder range, Arburg says it offers a variety of clean room concepts. These range from machines and complete production cells that can be docked to a clean room, through to Allrounders that operate entirely within a clean room.
On its Medtec stand, there will be a partial clean room from Ionstatex which will allow the exhibit and application to be observed close-up.
Arburg also is exhibiting at NPE2012 in Orlando, Fla., in booth 3729.
