Düsseldorf, Germany — Dr. Boy GmbH & Co. KG has a next-generation press that improves energy efficiency, a reformatted control system to advance Industry 4.0, and it has gone solar at its injection molding press manufacturing factory to offset steeply rising electrical spending.
Sustainability, automation and cost control are at the forefront for the family-owned company and its customers that manufacture PET preforms, rubber goods, liquid silicone rubber products, devices in clean rooms and more.
Founded in 1968, Dr. Boy has delivered more than 50,000 presses worldwide with clamping forces up to 125 tons.
At K 2022, the Neustadt-Fernthal, Germany-based company launched a next-generation press called Boy XS E — the Boy XS was released 13 years ago — with a more efficient servo-motor pump drive.
"In addition to the energy benefits provided by the drive technology of the E-series, the servo drive of the new BOY XS E also scores with its high dynamics and an extremely smooth running," according to Martin Kaiser, head of technology at Boy.
The modified machine also offers a more ergonomic design and better accessibility. An extractable drawer was integrated into the front side of the machine frame for service and cleaning purposes.
At K 2022, Boy showed two of the midsized presses with one producing polypropylene mounting bolts in a 15.6-second cycle time and the other dishing out NAS 30 material egg cups in a 28-second cycle time. The egg cups are removed from the mold by a robot and placed on a conveyor belt.
The Boy XS E is available with two different clamping platen configurations: a standard design for conventional mold sizes up to 160 millimeters as well as a special holder for micromolds.
The new press also is equipped with the next-gen Alpha 6 control system, which has a larger screen and multitouch technology. Target quantities and tolerances can be set, displayed and monitored.
In addition to a wider screen, the controller is flexible and attractive, according to Marko Koorneef, president of Boy Machines Inc.
"The Alpha 6 is more compatible for Industry 4.0 and provides more communication with chillers, TCUs [temperature control units] and dryers," Koorneef said.
In the future, a new cooling water distribution system also will be standard to digitally record set flow rates on the machine display.