All-Electric Injection Machines Enable More Sustainable, Energy-Efficient Processing
Stork’s all-electric injection molding machines include a breaking energy feedback system in which recovered energy can be fed back into the customer energy grid.
Rendering of Stork IMM all-electric. Source: Stork IMM
— a Dutch manufacturer of injection molding machines for the packaging market — has expanded its machine product range with an all-electric line developed to deliver greater sustainability and the same high-performance capabilities of standard Stork IMM machines.
The all-electric injection molding machine offers lower energy consumption, a novel rack-and-pinion drive system and customized process tailoring for a range of applications in thin-wall food packaging and industrial paints/buckets.
The all-electric series enables flexible, customized solutions for customers by pairing clamping units from 250 to 700 tons with a range of injection units with screw sizes from 45 to 84 mm. The company says this line was developed to satisfy customer demand for high-performance injection molding machines that meet sustainability goals for the packaging market and support a circular economy.
Some of its performance features include high output, maximum uptime and a favorable total cost of ownership. The all-electric units are said to achieve 15% greater energy savings compared to similarly specified hybrid machines and operate at injection speeds suitable for thin-wall packaging applications. The machines also feature a breaking energy feedback system in which recovered energy can be fed back into the customer energy grid.
The units feature a heavy-duty, rack-and-pinion drive which is highly rigid, energy-efficient and provides reduced wear and longer life. The drive is said to provide higher speed forces for the clamp and injection units compared to ball bearing and spindle drives.
The high-speed injection molding machinery is well suited for the production of food-grade, thin-wall packaging made of polyolefins (PE and PP). Stork machines are designed to provide maximum performance at minimum operational costs, with lower material cost, reduced energy consumption and shorter cycle times. Key applications include closures, tubs, containers and cups along with flower pots, paint pails and buckets.
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