Swiss machinery maker WM Thermoforming Machines SA is introducing the FLEX 92, a new steel-rule-die machine at K 2019.
WM also will be joined by officials of SencorpWhite Inc., the U.S. thermoforming equipment manufacturer, since the two companies announced Sept. 6 that they signed a strategic partnership for the United States and Canada.
The agreement allows SencorpWhite to offer an extended range of thermoforming technology for a broader range of applications and for WM Thermoforming Machines to strengthen its position in the United States and Canada. In addition to the existing SencorpWhite in-line series of thermoforming equipment, customers in those two countries now will be able to buy the Swiss thermoforming machines under the co-branded name of WM Thermoforming Machines — Sencorp.
On the FLEX 92 running at K, WM executives said the breakthrough steel-rule-die technology improves parallelism stability, cutting resolution and longevity of the die. The machine will form polypropylene lids on a 24-cavity Marbach mold.
Features include a movable clamping frame, plug assist and an electric-driven ejector. The FLEX gives flexibility, as one machine can be used for an extensive number of molds, with no major mold modifications needed.
WM Viewer, a remote interface, allows real-time remote monitoring of the machine via smart phones, tablets and personal computers.
WM is also showing new laser technology, called TLA, or thermoforming laser application, and a new machine to form coffee capsules.
The partnership with SencorpWhite means that WM's FC and the new in-line Flex series, together with the tilting-bed FT series of thermoformers will expand SencorpWhite's portfolio, complementing SencorpWhite's 2500 and Ultra series of thermoforming machines. WM gets greater access to the packaging market in the United States and Canada.
WM's FT and another tilting-bed machine, the Twist, come with optional in-house extruders and rimming units, so they meet market requirements for high-volume dairy, coffee capsule and cup production, according to WM Thermoforming Machines.
WM Thermoforming Machines and SencorpWhite announced the partnership just before the Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Conference in Milwaukee.