CHICAGO (July 14, 4:10 p.m. EDT) — HPM Corp. used NPE 2000 to show a U.S.-made version of its Next Wave two-platen injection press and a redesigned version of its low-priced Universal toggle-clamp press. In extrusion, the firm touted its move into twin-screw compounding extruders.
HPM also pulled a feat rare for a trade show, by extruding sheet on the show floor.
HPM "Americanized" the Next Wave hydromechanical press, and began U.S. assembly of the machine last year at its headquarters plant in Mount Gilead, Ohio. HPM acquired the machine´s retractable-tie-bar technology in 1996, when it bought the former Hemscheidt Maschinentechnik Schwerin GmbH & Co. in Schwerin, Germany.
HPM officials at the Chicago show declined to say how many of the Ohio-built Next Wave presses they have sold so far. But President William Flickinger did detail recent sales to two customers.
United Plastic Housewares of Leominster, Mass., which bought the first Ohio-built Next Wave a year ago, also bought the 880-ton press HPM was running at NPE.
Two Next Waves — a 1,100 ton press and a 2,200-tonner — went to Rehrig International Inc. of Richmond, Va., which makes plastic shopping baskets and carts.
At the other end of the spectrum, HPM showed an upgraded version of its 3-year-old Universal toggle-clamp machines. HPM touts the value price of the presses, which have a machine base built by Hong Kong-based Welltec Machinery Ltd. Changes on the Universal II include a multilanguage Command 4500 controller with a larger screen, hydraulic system check valves, and improvements to the hydraulic system, gates and guarding.
HPM also ran a hydraulic-clamp press demonstrating gas counterpressure technology from M&C Advanced Processes Inc. of Ann Arbor, Mich.
On the extrusion side, HPM showed two of its new Prodex APV line of twin-screw extruders. Under an agreement announced last December, HPM does final assembly in Mount Gilead of twin-screw compounders made in England by the APV Baker´s Industrial Extruder Division
The extruders are available with screw diameters ranging from 30-160 millimeters.
Up until now, HPM has focused mainly on single-screw extruders.