At the Fakuma show, Ferromatik Milacron GmbH showed a new midrange size of its F-Series press, with 160 metric tons of clamping force, molding clear polystyrene drink cups with an in-mold labeling system from Beck Automation AG.
The four-cavity mold from Glaroform AG made thin-wall cups. A side-entry robot placed the labels into the mold cavity while simultaneously removing the set of finished, labeled parts. Finally, the system stacked the containers on a conveyor belt.
Cycle time for the complete operation was three seconds.
Ferromatik Milacron introduced its modular F-Series press at K 2010. The new 160-tonne press joins presses of 80 tonnes and 350 tonnes. Eventually, the company in Malterdingen, Germany, will sell F-Series machines in 10 clamping-force sizes, from 50-650 tonnes.
The machine running at Fakuma was equipped with electric drives for clamping, part ejection, injection and plasticizing. Customers can select what type of power they want for each axis of motion, either hydraulic or electric.
Also at the Fakuma show, held Oct. 18-22 in Friedrichshafen, Ferromatik Milacron showed a 110-tonne, all-electric Elektron press built at its plant in China.