Wittmann rolls out new all-electric machines

Wittmann Battenfeld GmbH is rolling out its high-speed, all-electric EcoPower Xpress at Fakuma, with a 400-ton press molding closures on a 96-cavity mold on a 2.6-second cycle time.

The EcoPower Xpress, which was shown as a prototype at K 2016, is available in clamping forces of 400 and 500 tons. One key is the fast acceleration of injection speed of up to 600 millimeters per second.

Another all-electric EcoPower press is running at Fakuma: a 160-tonner equipped with Airmould.

At the company's Fakuma Oct. 18 news conference, CEO Michael Wittmann said all-electric injection molding machines have reached 25 percent of the total press market in Europe, up from about 20 percent, the level for several years.

The main injection molding press focus for Wittmann Battenfeld at Fakuma is Combimould machines from the servo-hydraulic SmartPower series, and one press from the all-electric MicroPower line doing micro-molding. New is a ​ SmartPower press molding a three-component part: a Playmobil chimpanzee.

On robot news, Wittmann Battenfeld is introducing another model in its Primus series of beam robots: the Primus 14, with a 2-kilogram payload. The cable management system permits a compart geometry without excessive lengths due to the power chain.

Wittmann Battenfeld is introducing the SpeedDrive option on its Tempro plus D temperature controller. It consists of a motor speed-controlled pump.

Company officials also said the Aton plus H dryer also supports the Wittmann 4.0 concept. The new generation of segmented wheel dryers are being showcased at Fakuma.

In other Fakuma news, Wittmann Battenfeld is introducing the G-Max 23 granulator, the latest model in the series.

Sales increased by 8 percent this year for Austria's Wittmann Group.

The injection molding, automation and auxiliary equipment maker with headquarters in Vienna reported total sales of more than 405 million euros this year, compared with 377 million euros in 2016.

Michael Wittmann said the company had a "very high order income" in 2017 from nearly all of the markets it serves, including automotive, packaging and medical technology.

The company said it also saw high demand for all of the products in its PowerSeries, particularly its all-electric EcoPower injection molding machines.

"We see a lot of growth on the automation side and the peripheral equipment side," Wittmann said.

In addition, Wittmann said the company is experiencing a lot of growth in Poland, Mexico, India, Spain, France, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

"What is weaker is the U.K., and I have to say countries like Brazil. They're still not recovering for us," Wittmann said.

For 2018, Wittmann Group has set a target of 440 million to 450 million euros, a growth rate between 8 and 11 percent.

Wittmann said next year's sales depend on low interest rates and the currency exchange between the euro and the U.S. dollar as well as the Japanese yen.

Wittmann Group employs 2,300 worldwide.