Always supporting the sustainability agenda
Component recycling, fewer pollutants and lower energy consumption are among the other advantages of the process being showcased at Fakuma 2021. "The IMD decoration process diligently supports component recyclability," says Langwald. Both IMD components and sprues, including decorative layers, can easily be recycled. Additionally, as the thin-film metallisation takes place within the decor, there are no hazardous chrome-6 issues.
In adopting this process, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is living and standing by its new “Act! Sustainably” slogan being unveiled at the trade fair, whereby only equipment and machinery that drive sustainable and positive environmental actions will be presented by the company.
The IntElect 220/660-1100 being used for the demonstration at the booth fits this criteria exactly. Dynamic, precise and energy-saving, it features the latest servo drives that deliver improved repeatability and shorter cycle times. As a result of the in-house developed drive motors, frequency inverters and the entire servo motor control, the IntElect series remains one of the most efficient injection moulding machines on the market, consuming up to 20 percent less energy compared to conventional all-electric injection moulding machines. Further advantages are higher availability and greater precision, both of which have a positive effect on the machine’s cost-effectiveness. "All relevant interfaces are integrated into the control system, as is the IMD package and standardised communication with our SAM-C robot," says Langwald.
Machine and robot from one source
Designed by Sumitomo (SHI) Demag to complement the injection moulding process perfectly, the biggest reveal at the trade fair is the company’s highly anticipated own-branded, SAM-C (Sumitomo Demag. Automation. Machine – Cartesian) handle&place robot series developed in-house.
“ For the IMD application, height optimisation is achieved using a compact telescope axis," explains Jürgen Schulze, Director Automation. Customers benefit from process and system technology from a single supplier source, complete with hardware and software control integration of robot technology into the injection moulding unit and production-optimised robotic mechanics fully customised to Sumitomo (SHI) Demag machines.
SAM-C: Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s first own-label robot series
“With SAM-C, we have succeeded in engineering the smallest automated injection moulding cell, comprising robot and material handling technology," explains Schulze. “We offer high system availability with minimal repair and maintenance work, thanks to Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s in-house servo motor technology and low-maintenance drive and guide technology. With the corresponding vacuum technology, the systems also deliver significant energy-savings."
Initially comprising four payload s - three, five, ten and 20 kg –the SAM platform will expand in phases over the next two years adding further robot kinematics and functional elements.
Other efficient automation concepts included within the IMD cell include sprue separation and laser marking supplied by H + S Automatisierungstechnik GmbH, Groß-Umstadt; a cleaning station from Kurz subsidiary Baier GmbH + Co KG Maschinenfabrik, Rudersberg; the PETEK laminar Flowbox; and a CO2 laser system from Datalogic S.P.A., Lippo di Calderara di Reno (Italy) for sprue separation. Other partners involved in this innovative project include Universal Robots GmbH, Munich, supplying the compressed air and a universal component cleaning cobot, and developer of the durable PMMA filter compound PLEXIGLAS® Röhm GmbH from Darmstadt.
