Milacron fills a gap with its M-Series

Batavia, Ohio-based Milacron (W1601) is giving its medium tonnage M-Series injection molding machines a North American rollout at NPE2024.

The next generation two-platen technology, powered by Fanuc brand motors and drives, provides the manufacturer with a full lineup of presses for all clamping forces.

The M-series made its debut at Fakuma 2023, covers the range from 450 to 1,100 tons while the eQ series goes as small as 50 tons and the C series covers 1,300 to 4,000 tons.

The new press is suited for automotive, consumer goods, industrial packaging, housewares, custom molders and products with up to 50 percent post-consumer recyclables in the core, according to Bunlim Ly, senior director of marketing and business development.

The M-series features the largest clamp stroke available as standard in the mid-tonnage hybrid range within a compact footprint, which means more applications fit within the machine specifications, Ly said.

"This platform was designed to handle a wide range of tasks, making it suitable for a wide range of industries and applications around the globe," Ly said.

"To this point, time is money. When a customer can experience a reduction in lead time because its application spec already fits within our clamp stroke, no procurement of parts is needed."

The M-series platform also is compatible with the M-powered industrial internet of things (IIoT) solution, which Ly described as a user-friendly, observational, analytical remote support service that delivers data and insights, improves production, decreases downtime and increases profitability.

The M-series has been well received with its "all-inclusive performance" and integrated control catching the attention of processors, Ly said, along with faster clamp speeds, improved mold and eject access for quicker mold changes, and a mechanically synchronized nut lock design with ample tie-bar spacing.

Alec Woll, M-Series product manager, said the press was designed with customer need in mind.

"It's a workhorse that's built to perform with bigger molds in a more compact package, but with less energy consumption," Woll said in an email.

Also, Milacron integrates M-Powered onto all its new machines, including the M-Series, for free in the U.S. and Europe for the first 12 months of ownership.

Milacron's showcase is part of a 10,500-square foot exhibit that also includes work cells and technology from its parent company Hillenbrand and fellow Hillenbrand operating companies, including DME, Coperion, Herbold, Mold-Masters, Rotex and Schenck Process.

At NPE2024, two different M-Series demonstrations are planned. An M-1070 with Mold-Masters coinjection technology will mold pails with up to 50 percent recycled core followed by in-mold labeling (IML) automation; and a M-500 machine cell with a Mold-Masters hot runner and Kurz in-mold decoration technology will demonstrate custom textures and backlit applications for the automotive and appliance markets.

Going down a range, the general purpose Q-series presses feature a double-toggle design that leverages a servo-hydraulic package delivering quality parts at a rapid pace while minimizing energy use.

Milacron has several variations of the general-purpose Q-Series platform at NPE2024. At the Milacron booth, the Q-170 machine will mold a mobile phone holder as it display a new G3 Mosaic control, DME mold technologies utilizing a bio-resin material, and custom serialization and QR code stamping.

Also, Milacron has a Q-125 in the Sepro booth (W143), where four private-labeled Sepro robots have been integrated with the machine to produce a two-cavity mini disc.

In addition, Milacron will showcase two applications that integrate DME Flosense brand water manifold technology with the Robo 55 producing an umbrella part that requires a tiny shot and the Robo 275 machine cell showing a 48-cavity medical vial application.

Milacron also is promoting its L-series for low-pressure injection molding (LPIM) with an animation loop due to space constraints to exhibit the machine. The company's LPIM machine can run up to 100 percent regrind flake material and is ideal for large-part production in structural foam and web applications.

Milacron has exhibited at NPE since 1952. With the 2021 trade show canceled because of the pandemic, Ly said the current staff is upbeat.

"As this is the first NPE in six years, our people are ecstatic to showcase our new integrated solutions, not only with our industry-leading machines but also through our service, technology innovation, and expertise," Ly said.