HTI Plastics testing new KraussMaffei machine

There's more going on than never-ending miles of corn fields in Nebraska — some innovative injection molding is going on, at HTI Plastics in Lincoln, Neb.

Yes, this month, Best Practices takes you to the Cornhusker State.

KraussMaffei Group selected HTI as a U.S. beta test site for its new all-electric injection press, the PX. HTI will act as a host site for the machine for a year and then have the option to purchase it.

It makes sense that HTI got one of the first PX presses. The molder is a KraussMaffei house, running 24 KM injection presses ranging up to 1,800 tons of clamping force.

And HTI began buying all-electric injection molding presses back in 2010, transitioning from hydraulic presses, even though Nebraska has some of the lowest energy prices in the nation. Of course, a manufacturing operation can always benefit from lower energy prices. But HTI officials say the all-electrics increase speed and efficiency, and give tight, highly repeatable molding as well.

KraussMaffei premiered the PX at the K 2016 show in Germany in late 2016, billing the press as a modular, "made-to-measure" press that allows customers to mix and match clamping and injection units, so a customer can tailor the machine to its specific molding needs.

Features of the PX include larger platens to accommodate a wider range of mold sizes, faster injection speeds and more ejector force.

"We are excited to serve as a test site for the KraussMaffei all-electric PX injection molding machine," HTI President Troy Just said. "We are committed to investing in our facility and the latest technologies. Partnering with KraussMaffei will allow us to remain on the cutting edge of injection molding technology and processes."

Early adopters and beta sites are certainly very important for machinery manufacturers. They prove out new models. HTI posted a news release about the PX on its website, and PR Newswire, giving the PX added publicity through a molder's perspective.

HTI Plastics serves a range of markets including pharmaceutical and medical devices, animal health, packaging, recreational and sporting goods, consumer items and agricultural goods.

The company's largest press, the 1,800-ton KM, came in 2014.

In 2016, HTI also bought three Sodick injection molding presses, of 40, 60 and 100 tons.

It all comes back to constantly reinvesting in technology, and looking ahead. That's a key to any manufacturing operation, but is especially important in plastics injection molding, where new machinery technologies come along regularly, reducing costs and improving precision.