Technology Roundup: The K Show Experience

Thermal Management, Modular Mold Systems, IoT Connectivity Demonstrated at K Show

Photo Credit: DME

DME is showcasing a series of breakthrough solutions that target reducing energy consumption, reduced costs through boosted productivity and are more sustainable at this year’s K Show. Supporting part and mold designers, molders and toolmakers, DME is featuring three new platforms: DME thermal management solutions, DME modular mold systems and DME digital Internet of Things (IoT) controls.

Molds, Hot Runner Systems, Digital Technologies Highlight Sustainable Production

Photo Credit: Foboha

The Molding Solutions network at K 2022 — a business within Barnes — has bundled the expertise of its members, Männer, Foboha, Synventive, Thermoplay, Priamus and Gammaflux, which are highlighting mold and hot runner technology and controls.

At its own booth, the Molding Solutions network is showing how digitization helps simplify recycling of packaging materials. A digital watermark is given to packaging made of a certified bio-based material, for example, so that recycling centers can automate the separation of these digitally marked products in the waste stream — mold inserts are laser engraved to apply the digital watermark onto the mold, which then applies it to the part when molded.

Moldmaking Specialist Delivers High-Quality Shut-off Couplings, Flow Analysis Support

Moving half of the injection molding tool for an open-fronted storage box. Photo Credit: Hasco

Hasco, a full-service provider for moldmaking, serves the industry with more than 100,000 products, including a range of standard mold units with individual hot runner solutions. When special challenges need to be mastered, Hasco experts Volker Wittmer, technical sales engineer, Hot Runner, and Klaus Meier, technical sales engineer, Mould Base, are said to be able to come up with innovative solutions. 

For example, the company has been in close cooperation with Müller + Sohn Kunststofferzeugnisse, a company that processes around 1,500 tons of plastics per year on 13 injection molding machines.

Advanced Hot Runner Solutions for Increased Injection Molding Flexibility, Sustainability

Photo Credit: Oerlikon HRSflow

At K Show 2022, hot runner specialist Oerlikon HRSflow is focusing on an extensive range of hot runners tailored to small shot weights and the new Xp nozzle series for use in thin-wall injection molding. Both support the trend towards greater sustainability by helping to reduce energy consumption in plastics processing, according to the company.

Free Injection Molding Training, Hands-On Demonstrations

The Copilot system. Photo Credit: RJG Inc.

RJG, a company that offers custom, end-to-end injection molding solutions, is offering free injection molding training videos at its K Show 2022 booth (Hall 13/booth C30). Attendees have the opportunity to learn helpful injection molding tips in all languages (with English subtitles), see each of RJG’s global training facilities and get to know the company’s trainers from around the world.

RJG’s online and in-person injection molding training is available worldwide in various languages and locations. New online training options make it easier than ever to gain the knowledge necessary to bridge the skills gap, produce high-quality parts, raise the bottom line and improve employee retention, according to the company. RJG offers two types of online training: eLearning and Virtual Instructor Led Training.

Injection Molding Techonology Features Short, Repeatable Production Cycles

Photo Credit: Mastip

Global hot runner company Mastip unveils its recently launched liquid silicone rubber (LSR) molding solution at K Show 2022, aiming to cater to the needs of its large customer base in automotive, medical and consumer electronics segments.

LSR molding uses the process of injecting liquid silicone material mixed with a catalyst into a mold which is heated, accelerating the mold’s curing cycle. LSR injection molding has been adopted in a variety of applications as a result of silicone rubber’s unique mechanical and chemical properties such as flexibility, heat resistance and tensile strength, according to the company.

Hot Runner Technologies Address Efficient Color Change, Independent Control

ISO diffusion bonding technology. Photo Credit: Yudo

Yudo features three technologies at the K Show, including hot runner manifolds showcasing its ISO diffusion bonding process — currently the only hot runner brand using this process in its hot runners, Yudo contends — the Yudo Pack system for the packaging/multi-cavity markets and Yudrive II servo-driven hot runner systems.

The company’s Yudo Pack system was developed for the multi-cavity industries such as packaging and medical. When paired with Yudo’s ISO-bonded manifolds, the specialized nozzle design is said to create industry-leading color change efficiently. Yudo says it sees up to 50% reduction in color change times when directly tested against competitors.

Mold Monitoring System Provides Real-Time Mold Performance Monitoring

At the K Show, Arburg’s booth highlights the company’s role in resource conservation through highly networked, digitalized manufacturing. In addition to eight hydraulic, hybrid and electric Allrounders and two Freeformers for industrial additive manufacturing (AM), the injection mold machine manufacturer is displaying a hybrid packaging Allrounder 630 H.

In this “smart” exhibit, the Allrounder is in communication with the mold, hot runner controller, dryer and automation via Gestica control and application of OPC UA communication protocols. The 32-cavity also features Austrian toolmaker Hack Formenbau’s Moldlife Sense mold monitoring system launched in 2021.

Multicomponent Mold Combines Capping, Unscrewing Functions for Pharma Closure

Photo Credit: Braunform 

Moldmaking specialist Braunform presents its patented RotaricE² mold technology at K 2022, running a Luer connector in Arburg’s booth, integrating multiple materials, servo-driven mold actions and assembly steps into a single 4+4 cavity mold.

Running on an Arburg Allrounder More and featuring an Ewikon hot runner for the second shot, the Braunform mold will produce 11-mm (0.43") long Luer locks with a diameter of 10 mm (0.39") in an overmolding tool, which also has capping and unscrewing functions in a side-gated design. The second shot in TPE weighs just 0.05 g, requiring precision design in the Ewikon hot runner system.

Standardized Mold Bases, Hot Runner Systems, Tech Support

Photo Credit: Meusburger

At this year’s K Show, Meusburger focuses on its standardized mold bases. The standard parts manufacturer will also present its extensive range for injection molders and its standardized and customized solutions for hot runner systems. A special highlight will be the Engel injection molding machine, where visitors can watch a bread box being produced.

Meusburger says it offers over 96,000 high-quality, functional items that are immediately available from stock. The company also has an area on its website especially for injection molders, which provides optimal support for customers navigating the wide product range.

Compact Mold Designs Demonstrate Sustainable Operations

The 6DC container produced live at Haidlmair’s booth.
Photo Credit: Haidlmair

Haidlmair is focusing its appearance at this year’s K Show entirely on sustainability. Attendees can learn more about its approaches for a reduced CO₂ footprint in more detail, alongside other benefits of using its products. Visitors are also able to view the advantages of Haidlmair’s molds themselves, with five molds running live at various partner company booths. 

The quest for climate-neutral company operations was achieved in August 2021, the company says. Next, Haidlmair focused on the sustainability of its own products, first through production of injection molds.

Hot Runner Systems, Controllers, Auxiliary Injection Unit Exhibitions

Photo Credit: Mold-Masters

Mold-Masters is showcasing numerous new hot runner systems, controllers and auxiliary injection units at this year’s K Show. The following solutions include:

• Co-Injection Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Solution
• PET-Series Two-Stage Hot Runner System
• Fusion Series G3 Hot Runner System
• E-Multi Auxiliary Injection Unit (New EM5 Model)
• Axiom (TG-Thermal Gate) Single-Stage PET Hot Runner System
• And more

Component Innovations, Real-Time Tooling Tracking

Photo Credit: Progressive Components

Progressive Components is a developer and distributor of globally standard components and web-based mold monitoring innovations. At the company’s ninth K Show exhibition, additions include:

• Plate sequencing: Plate Retainers are a compact new method to pull parting lines in small- to medium-sized molds, and Plate Locks have seen the addition of a large Cam Bar for robust parting line actuation of large molds.
• Undercut release: C-Series UniLifters self-adjust to compensate for ejector plate misalignment and offer a click-in-place feature to make mold assembly straightforward.
• Mold handling: RhinoFeet eliminate wood beams and pallets and are available in 50-, 75- and 100-mm heights for over 12,000 kg strength per unit.
• Mold monitoring: High-temperature mold CounterViews are available in left- and right-hand versions for temperatures up to 190°C.