Engel at Plastpol 2018: Process expertise with iQ

Last but not least, the third assistance system is iQ flow control. The software networks the temperature control units and the injection moulding machine and controls the rotation speed of the pumps in the temperature control units on demand.

The result is significantly reduced energy consumption and the stability of the temperature control process is also enhanced. e-flomo is capable of actively controlling the temperature difference in all individual circuits and automatically setting the required flow rate for each temperature control circuit.

Together with its partner HB-Therm (St. Gallen, Switzerland), Engel has developed a series of particularly compact temperature control units for this new integrated temperature control solution. By linking the e-temp control units to the injection moulding machine via OPC UA, the development partners have established a milestone along the road to the smart factory.

The OPC UA protocol facilitates powerful, platform-independent and above all secure communication, both at shop floor level and with superordinate control systems. For this reason, it is increasingly becoming the standard for the plastics industry.

IML integration from a single source

With a second application at Plastpol, Engel is demonstrating the great efficiency potential of integrated processes. Thanks to in-mould labelling (IML), an all-electric Engel e motion 440/160 injection moulding machine with integrated viper 12 linear robot, and IML automation from TMA Automation (Gdynia, Poland), produces ready-for-market decorated covers for food packaging in a single operation.

TMA Automation is a new Engel partner specialising in the automation of IML and downstream processes, such as assembly, quality assurance and palletising, in the general purpose segment in a wide range of industries. Based on a standardised system concept, TMA Automation implements highly compact and at the same time very flexible solutions. The Polish company has many excellent references, particularly in Eastern Europe. "In many projects, cooperation with local partner companies helps to improve cost efficiency and reduce the lead time for the entire plant," says Walter Aumayr, Head of Automation and Peripherals at the Engel headquarters in Austria. As the general contractor, ENGEL handles coordination with the automation partner for its customers and supplies the complete production cell from a single source. This also increases efficiency, as fewer interfaces often mean faster project planning.

Source: Engel