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Citing rising energy prices, interest in a circular economy and changing consumer needs, Engel has opened two dedicated packaging centers at existing manufacturing locations in Schwertberg and St. Valentin, Austria, to help its customers rise to the challenges faced by manufacturers of plastic packaging.

These sites include a variety of customized packaging cells running various applications, including all-electric e‑cap machines for molding caps and flip-top lids; e-speed machines for thin-walled containers and pails; and duo speed dual-platen machines for large containers. In addition to this, the company notes that all-electric e-mac injection moulding machines can be used at the Engel technology center.

All of the molding machines are equipped with smart assistance systems from the Engel inject 4.0 programme, including iQ weight control, which detects fluctuations in the shot volume and material viscosity and automatically compensates for them in the same cycle. They also feature iQ flow control, which manages the temperature differences in the individual cooling circuits to maintain the set value.

Engel said its customers can bring their own molds and materials to the Packaging Center for hands-on performance tests, including cycle time and energy efficiency analyses. Engel can also provide molds from the various product groups it has on site, as well as a range of peripheral systems from various partner companies, including automation developed both in-house and by collaborators such as Campetella and Beck automation.

To mark the occasion, Engel hosted approximately 300 customers and partners at Schwertberg and St. Valentin for an opening ceremony in mid-May. In addition to live machine exhibits at both locations, the events featured presentations and panel discussions. Among the speakers was Edward Kosior from Nextek who discussed food packaging production opportunities opened up by recycled polypropylene (rPP). In support of that vision, Engel molded food-grade rPP into new containers. An Engel spokesperson noted that in the bottle sector, rPET is frequently used to produce new bottles, but so far it’s been alone in that effort. Nextek used an Engel machine to show the possibility of rPP going forward. Engel molded margarine tub lids from a 30% rPP at the event.