WITTMANN BATTENFELD with Innovative Momentum at the K 2016
WITTMANN BATTENFELD, the leading global machinery manufacturer for the plastics industry, exhibited a comprehensive solutions portfolio at K 2016 in Dusseldorf.
Under the banner “be smart”, WITTMANN BATTENFELD showcased numerous innovative novelties at the K 2016 in Düsseldorf from 19 to 26 October in hall 16, booth D22.
The absolute highlight of this year’s K trade fair was the new UNILOG B8 control system, which is available for all machines of the PowerSeries. But the innovations in terms of machine technology are also quite noteworthy. Integration into the world of Industry 4.0 is a recurring theme in the majority of exhibits on display.
After taking a guided tour of the WITTMANN BATTENFELD’s booth, we would like to highlight the following equipments and technologies:
- Introduction
- The NEW UNILOG B8
- EcoPower Xpress
- EcoPower Medical
- Micropower multi-component model
- Multicomponent on Servo-Hydraulic SmartPower
- 4.0 on SmartPower 350
- Vertical roratory table machine with automation
- WITTMANN 4.0
Page 2
-
Trade fair Star: The new UNILOG B8
The new UNILOG B8 control system from WITTMANN BATTENFELD, demonstrated on an EcoPower for the first time at the 40th anniversary of the WITTMANN Group, will be shown on every single machine exhibited at the K in Düsseldorf. This new control system generation distinguishes itself from its predecessor version by several additional features and even greater operator comfort.
Via an attractively designed, pivotable 21.5” full HD multi-touch screen, the process functions can be retrieved by gestures (zooming/wiping), while some selectable operating functions are triggered by tactile keys located in the machine’s central console. This makes it possible to address frequently used functions easily and directly.
A display screen which can be partitioned allows simultaneous visualization of two different functions. This is a special advantage, since thanks to WITTMANN 4.0 technology, it has now become possible to visualize and operate machines and peripheral appliances in parallel via a single monitor screen.
Page 3
-
Trade fair highlight: EcoPower Xpress with IML application
With the new EcoPower Xpress, WITTMANN BATTENFELD introduces the development of a high-speed, all-electric machine model primarily geared to the requirements of the packaging industry. The highly dynamic drive axes for injection as well as closing and opening of the EcoPower Xpress are designed for fast movements and ultimate control accuracy. Moreover, extremely high energy efficiency is achieved by using servo drives. EcoPower Xpress stands for high output with optimized utilization of energy, thus making a vital contribution to sustainability in plastics processing.
At the K show in Düsseldorf, the EcoPower Xpress was on display with a WITTMANN W837 IML system.
On the EcoPower Xpress 400/1100+, lids made of PP was injection-molded within a cycle time of 4.7 seconds with an 8-cavity mold supplied by Greiner Packaging, Austria. The W837 side-entry robot from WITTMANN inserts the IML foils, removes the labeled lids, subsequently presents them to an integrated camera for quality inspection and then separates the good parts from rejects.
Page 4
-
Medical technology competence with the EcoPower Medical
With a machine from the EcoPower Medical series, an EcoPower Medical 110/350, WITTMANN BATTENFELD demonstrated its competence in the area of medical technology at the K Show. In this complete clean-room production cell, equipped with a laminar flow box from Max Petek, Germany, the central pump component of the Respimat inhalator from Boehringer Ingelheim microParts GmbH, Germany, was manufactured from PEEK.
The parts and pieces of sub-sprue from the hot runner are removed from the 8-cavity mold by a handling system with a W837 side-entry robot also designed for clean-room applications, the sprue is then separated and the parts are deposited separately according to cavities. Remote operation of this machine from outside the clean room via an external tablet was demonstrated by this exhibit.
Page 5
-
MicroPower multi-component model
A further highlight at the WITTMANN BATTENFELD booth was the MicroPower 15/10H/10H, the first 2-component model in the company’s MicroPower series specially designed for injection molding of micro and nano parts. On this machine, equipped with two parallel injection units and a rotary disk, a 2-component plug inside a sound recorder head made of PC and electrically conductive PC was manufactured with a single-cavity mold supplied by Ortofon, Denmark. The machine is equipped with an integrated camera system and a W8VS4 Scara robot from WITTMANN for fully automatic quality inspection and parts removal.
Page 6
-
More multi-component technology on the servo-hydraulic SmartPower
True to the motto “be smart”, WITTMANN BATTENFELD presented for the first time at the K 2016 the Combimould process (multi-component technology) on a machine from the servo-hydraulic SmartPower series. The SmartPower machines are currently available from 25 to 350 t as standard models and will be available with multi-component technology as well from K 2016 onwards.
On a SmartPower 180/525H/210L, a drinking cap made of thermoplastic and liquid silicon was manufactured with an 8-cavity mold supplied by ACH Werkzeugbau, using transfer technology. Parts removal and depositing will be handled by a W832 pro WITTMANN robot.
Page 7
-
“Be smart!” – the world of Industry 4.0 demonstrated on a SmartPower 350
On all exhibits shown at the K, networking of the machine and peripheral equipment with WITTMANN 4.0 were implemented and demonstrated.
Smart production with individualization and transparency according to Industry 4.0 principles is the theme of the SmartPower 350 on display. The highlight in connection with this topic will be a fully automatic and integrated machine of the servo-hydraulic SmartPower series, on which trade visitors were be able to witness live the production of individualized plastic parts.
On a SmartPower 350/3400, an attractive TPE shopping bag was produced with a mold supplied by Haidlmair, Austria, which can be provided with a personalized imprint. At a terminal, all visitors were able to enter their names. To collect the bag with the personalized imprint, each visitor received a printed voucher with a QR code, which can then be read in at the delivery station. After the QR code was scanned in, the next bag produced was separated and transferred to a station where it was laser-printed. After the fair, the production data of the “personalized bag” can still be retrieved by scanning the QR code for another fortnight. Handling of the bags will be effected by a WITTMANN W843 pro robot equipped with the new R9 control system.
Page 8
-
Vertical rotary table machine with automation
In addition to the machines from the PowerSeries, WITTMANN BATTENFELD also showcased a vertical rotary table machine with an automation system at this year’s K. The CM 40/210 R1280 on display will be a machine from the new CM-R series with a rotary table and 400 kN clamping force
Page 9
-
WITTMANN 4.0 – for easy entry into the world of INDUSTRIE 4.0
As already mentioned, networking of the machines with peripheral equipment under WITTMANN 4.0 were implemented on all machines and equipment exhibited at the K. Via the new B8 machine control system, the machines as well as the robots and peripherals connected with them can be linked with each other and operated via the uniform Windows user interface. This enables interaction between the individual appliances, and the entire production process becomes optimally coordinated as well as transparent.
The WITTMANN 4.0 router, developed in-house by WITTMANN, contributes substantially to data security throughout the entire system. Only appliances which authenticate themselves unambiguously to the router as WITTMANN 4.0 appliances are granted access to the production cell. The router is integrated in the injection molding machine and linked with the connected peripherals as well as the customer’s network. In this way, the WITTMANN 4.0 router dispenses with the manual allocation of IP addresses to the individual appliances within a production cell. This enables appliances to be plugged in and disconnected dynamically even while the equipment is in operation according to the principle of “plug & produce”.
For more information about WITTMANN BATTENFELD, please visit www.wittmann-group.com
