NISSEI’s high-precision micro molding machine offering its excellent performance for the medical industry

NISSEI injection molding machines have been one of the most widely used workhorses for medical molders around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the US, there is a strong ongoing need for “micro molding” machines among the medical equipment and electronic parts industries. Prior to the pandemic, NISSEI’s sales percentages to medical molders were 17% in 2018 and 15% in 2019. During the pandemic, the percentages have significantly increased to 39% in 2020 and 31% in 2021.

Under these circumstances, NISSEI PLASTIC INDUSTRIAL developed a new micro molding machine, NEX30Ⅳ-1EN1. The new machine is equipped with the 2-stage type high-precision injection unit, which consists of a screw and plunger. It is extremely capable of molding micro molded parts, proposing another attractive choice for the medical and electronic industries. The NEX30Ⅳ-1EN1 machine with 30-ton (33USton) clamping force was added to their micro molding machine lineup to meet these increasing demands in the North American markets.

In Japan, NISSEI possesses 46% market share (2021 result) for the micro precision injection molding machines, which ranges from 1~19ton clamping force (1~21USton), according to the statistics among all Japanese brands. Their machines have been widely used in a variety of industries that produces micro precision parts, such as electronic parts and medical equipment.

1. Key Features of NEX30Ⅳ-1EN1:

(1) It is equipped with the injection unit that consists of a screw and plunger, materializing ultra-stable micro molding under 1.0g per shot. Its injection stroke is capable of processing material with improved controllability, even at small volume.

(2) It comes with the high-velocity and high-pressure injection specifications for processing high-load filling material for micro molded parts. Injection velocity: 600mm/s and injection pressure: 300MPa.

(3) The linear pressure toggle mechanism generates uniform contact pressure to the mold.

(4) It is equipped with the high-performance and high-functioning controller TACT Ⅳ:
    ① A vertical 15-inch LCD screen displays two windows top and bottom, significantly improving visibility and controllability. The flat control panel uses sheet switches.
    ② It comes with a variety of maintenance features and improved quality & production management features. Its improved monitor function offers traceability for the molded products.

2. Molding Example for Medical Application:

The following is a molding example for the medical application, which is the molding of resin needles (1 cavity, material: PP, and product weight: 0.004g).

These resin needles are molded using a test mold developed by Yamada Seiko Co., Ltd. headquartered in Uonuma City, Niigata, Japan. Yamada Seiko is an expert in precision plastic parts mold processing as well as designing and manufacturing the precision molds. By utilizing their expertise in electronic precision parts molding technology, Yamada Seiko has entered the micro molding for medical equipment field and started a trial production of micro resin needles, which appeals to the potential clients in the medical industries.

Molding tests and demonstrations of the resin needles have been conducted using NISSEI’s micro molding machines (NPX7-1F and NEX30Ⅳ-1EN1).

This type of precision molding requires ultra-precision machining and assembly of the mold as well as ultra-stable motion (mold open/close linearity), high-speed injection, and high-pressure filling performance of the injection molding machine. The collaboration of Yamada Seiko and NISSEI Plastic Industrial successfully made highly stable continuous molding of the resin needles possible.

For more information or questions, please visit nisseiamerica.com or email us at [email protected].

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