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Collaborative robot maker Rethink shuts down

Rethink Robotics, a company known for making collaborative robots Sawyer and Baxter, shut down Oct. 3.CEO Scott Eckert first confirmed the news in an email to The Robot Report."We were pioneers and innovators in the industry and responsible for the creation of the collaborative robot category, but unfortunately we didn't quite achieve the market success we had intended," Eckert wrote.The Boston-based company was founded in 2008, and was known for its easy-to-use robots, some with smiling faces, designed to collaborate with human workers.The Boston Globe quoted a robotics expert who said the company ran into financial trouble when a major order from China failed to materialize.Several plastics injection molders have purchased the Sawyer and Baxter robots.

Aeyoung Park 2018-10-10

Straw bans stir new business as firms leap to PLA replacement

Straw bans stir new business as firms leap to PLA replacement▲ Sandu Kuo, vice general manager of Taiwanese plastics machinery maker Jumbo Steel Co. Ltd.The global movement to ban petroleum-based plastic straws has hit Taiwan's plastics machinery sector.For 33 years, Taichung-based Jumbo Steel Co. Ltd.'s bread and butter has been machines that make polypropylene straws, cotton-bud sticks and lollipop sticks, making it particularly vulnerable to a downtown in demand for straws.But now, the company is finding straw makers retooling: Interest in its 2-year-old line of machines for making straws from bioplastic polylactic acid is running high, said Vice General Manager Sandy Kuo, in an interview at the Taipei Plas trade show, held Aug. 15-19 in Taipei."This year, it's very hot," she said.Jumbo has an installed base of 100 machines in the United States, with many used to supply big U.S. customers like McDonald's and Starbucks, which has announced plans to eliminate single-use traditional plastic straws by 2020.Jumbo Steel is finding U.S. firms interested in retrofitting existing equipment."We have a customer from Seattle we met for dinner. We got an order to convert three of his PP machines into PLA machines," Kuo said.PLA straws, which can be made from renewable sources such as corn starch, cassava chips or sugar cane, are permitted under Seattle's ban on petroleum-based plastic straws and utensils that went into effect in July.Founded in 1985, Jumbo makes about 170 machines a year in its Taichung factory in central Taiwan. It has sold to its machines in 120 countries.Jumbo also makes machines that make and package those seemingly omnipresent bendable Tetra Pak straws."We've had a couple of inquiries to change our Tetra Pak machines from PP to PLA," Kuo said.Even though they represent but a fraction of plastic waste, PP straws have rapidly become a potent symbol of ocean pollution.The Taiwanese Environmental Protection Administration has been especially aggressive.Starting next year, food and beverage stores will not be able to provide plastic straws for in-store use, and in 2020, they will be banned from providing free straws. By 2025, fines will be levied for carryout use, and by 2030, they will be completely banned.Plastic bags, beverage cups and utensils will be subject to similar rollout bans, with full bans slated for 2030.One drawback industry officials point out: PLA costs three times as much as PP.And PLA won't break down until it has been exposed to the air for six months."PLA isn't as environmentally friendly as many people think," said Zen-Wen Chiou, vice president of the Plastics Industry Development Center in Taichung, which runs Taiwan's only ISO-certified lab for PLA testing — a 180-day process.As well, there can be recycling challenges, he said.While PP retains 80 percent of its original strength after being recycled 20 times, PLA quickly degrades after being recycled two or three times, Chiou told Plastics News at the center's Taichung offices."PLA shouldn't be reground, but should be composted," Chiou said.There are environmental costs to shipping PLA, too, he said, with Taiwan importing most of its PLA from the United States, Chiou said.But at the show, Kuo was in a more buoyant mode, saying she was close to closing a deal on four PLA machines with Taiwanese buyers."The market is very good," she said.The mood was decidedly pragmatic at the small booth of the Taiwan Plastics Industry Association, the island's trade organization for processors. They'll adapt to the decline in single-use plastics items, officials predicted."The domestic market for [one-use plastic items] isn't that big, so those manufacturers will export to other countries," Deputy Secretary General Hsu Chen said.

Aeyoung Park 2018-09-10

Atlas Roofing buys ACH Foam Technologies

- Atlas Roofing buys ACH Foam TechnologiesAtlas Roofing Corp. has acquired Westminster, Colo.-based ACH Foam Technologies Inc. to build up its product line and technology capabilities while creating what it says is the largest manufacturer of molded polystyrene in North America.ACH has eight U.S. manufacturing plants producing architectural insulation, geofoam, protective packaging, cold-chain packaging and OEM components with block-molding and shape-molding processes.Terms of the deal with the privately held Atlanta-based Atlas were not disclosed.The acquisition improves Atlas' product offering and manufacturing capabilities, President Ken Farrish said. He oversees about 20 production sites in four divisions, including Atlas EPS, which specializes in expanded polystyrene insulation for interior and exterior construction applications, packaging uses, geofoam and components for recreational vehicles, doors and sunroom panels.Atlas EPS started in the mid-1960s as Falcon Foam and has five plants, including one in Byron Center, Mich., which it says is the largest EPS manufacturing facility in the industry; Fredericktown and Perryville, Mo.; Martinsville, Va.; and Tijuana, Mexico.ACH formed in 2005 through the merger of three companies — Advance Foam Products, Contour Products and Heartland EPS — and has plants in Denver; Gainesville, Ga.; Kansas City, Kan.; Washington, Iowa; Reno, Nev.; Murray, Utah; and Fond du Lac, Wis. ACH says the facilities house the most extensive molded PS processing capabilities in North America."The time-proven experience and accomplishments of both the ACH and Atlas EPS teams make us very optimistic about the potential of this combination and what we can do for our customers and our industry," Farrish said in a news release.Atlas EPS products sell under the brand names of ThermalStar for below-grade sheathing and roofing applications; Elevation for geofoam structural fill for road and bridge projects; Integrity for custom EPS components for RV, spa cover and other manufacturers; and Matador for garage door insulation sold to consumers through Amazon."We are excited to combine the exceptional expertise, extensive manufacturing footprint and growth vision of ACH Foam Technologies with the outstanding Atlas portfolio," ACH President and CEO Mike Huempfner said in the news release.

Aeyoung Park 2018-09-03

Haitian reports solid results but sees choppier waters

- A new record high interim revenue with growth of 16.7% to RMB 5,877.4 million (approx. USD 893.8 million) and record half year profit, attributable to shareholders of RMB 1,169,4 Million (approx. USD 177.8 million)- 19,493 machines delivered to customers- A remarkable success in strategic shift to electrical machines and two-platen machines- Sustainable expansion of global footprintHaitian International Holdings Ltd., China's biggest maker of injection molding equipment, saw sales jump a healthy 16.7 percent to 5.877 billion yuan ($858.2 million) in the first half of the year but warned of risks from global economic uncertainty and the U.S.-China trade conflict.Gross profit for the six months ending June 30 edged up 3.1 percent to 1.824 billion yuan ($266.3 million).Domestic sales rose 18 percent to 4.178 billion yuan ($609.5 million), while strong sales in India, Turkey and Germany pushed exports up 13.5 percent to 1.580 billion yuan ($230.5 million).Despite the solid results — which Haitian noted was a half-year sales record — the company sounded a wary note."The global economy is still under the influence of volatilities in emerging markets, trade protectionism and the risk of geopolitical conflicts. Therefore we remain cautious in the future [for the] Chinese and global economies for the second half of 2018," the company said in comments attached to the results.Haitian does not see a quick resolution to the U.S.-China trade war and said it will hurt its sales in the United States."The China-U.S. trade dispute brings uncertainty to the macro-economy and the prospect of our industry," the company said bluntly. "Although we will adopt different measures to mitigate the effect of such additional tariff, the sales for our U.S. market will inevitably [be] subject to negative impact."While Haitian does not break out sales by country, it said U.S. sales were off slightly due to the emerging imbroglio. Starting July 6, the United States government slapped 25 percent tariffs on plastic production machinery from China.Domestic customers represented 71.1 percent of Haitian's sales, up slightly from 70.3 percent in the first six months of 2017.The figures were announced on Aug. 21 in Hong Kong, where Haitian is traded on the stock exchange.Haitian reported growth for its all-electric injection molding machines for smaller tonnages and two-platen machines for larger tonnages. Sales of all-electric Zhafir machines rose 30.6 percent to 680.5 million yuan ($98.37 million), while sales of Haitian's big, two-platen Jupiter series climbed 32.6 percent to 835.2 million yuan ($121.6 million).The company's workhorse Mars series saw sales rise 10.9 percent to 3.910 billion yuan ($570.9 million).As part of its Industry 4.0 push, Haitian announced the acquisition of Hangzhou Keqiang Intelligence Control System Co. Ltd., which specializes in control units for injection molding machines.In its financial report, the company expressed uncertainty about Beijing's efforts to focus the national economy on domestic consumption.Echoing comments of some other publicly traded Chinese firms, the company said a slowdown in domestic investment, falling liquidity and government policies tightening loan requirements all put a damper on domestic growth."The future growth in [the] domestic economy, which is expected to rely on domestic demand as [a] driving force, is still uncertain," the company said, pointing to a "slow-down in domestic investment and inflation rate and shrinkage in liquidity for some companies and local governments under the policies of stronger regulation and deleveraging."Haitian attributed the sluggish growth in gross profits to higher prices for raw materials and the falling value of the Chinese yuan.The company also said a strong U.S. dollar and interest-rate hikes by the Federal Reserve will push down the value of currencies in emerging markets.Still, Haitian is bullish on those markets. Last month, it opened a 54,000-square-foot sales, training and support center in Turkey.▲ New Haitian Turkey PlantSince entering the Turkish market in 1996, Haitian said it has sold more than 10,000 machines there. Its announcement quoted Turkish industry officials as saying that country is the second-largest market for plastics processing in Europe.Meanwhile, the company in April opened an assembly plant in India. The 210,000-square-foot facility, in Kadi will mainly produce servo-hydraulic injection molding machines. It will have a capacity of 1,800 machines a year, the company said.

Aeyoung Park 2018-08-29

WITTMANN extends the PRIMUS robot series with new models

- WITTMANN has just launched new models PRIMUS 10, PRIMUS 26 and PRIMUS 26T for the PRIMUS robot seriesPRIMUS 10PRIMUS 10 extends the PRIMUS series once more with a smaller model. The robot is specially designed for removing sprues and comes with sprue pincers as standard. The sensors integrated in these pincers ensure reliable feedback in order to signal whether the sprue pin has been securely gripped, and this removes the possibility of sprues being left behind in the mold area.PRIMUS 10 is fitted with an extremely powerful drive system with an output of 400 W. The movements are transmitted via racks and belts, which – in conjunction with the dual linear guide systems of the horizontal axes – enable cycle times of below four seconds.The compact dimensions of the PRIMUS 10 equip it for operation inside the safety enclosure of an injection molding machine. This reduces the costs incurred for the safety enclosure, and also ensures CE-compliant operation. If there is a change in production needs, the robot can integrate a vacuum circuit in order to carry out parts removal as well as sprue picking.PRIMUS 26 and PRIMUS 26TPRIMUS 16 is the largest model of the series so far. The PRIMUS 26 and PRIMUS 26T robots extend the range even further. These are the first models in the PRIMUS series able to operate on injection molding machines with clamping forces of up to 400 t, and also the first PRIMUS robots with a moveable demolding axis.WITTMANN has been using this technology for decades to offer users maximum flexibility in gripper design. Thanks to decentralized positioning on the vertical Y-axis, the total height of the appliance has been minimized, and the robot is thus also well suited to perform moving and handling tasks inside the mold.In this way, it also becomes possible to implement 2-component applications inside the injection molding machine and at low cost without using a rotary table.With its 10 kg load capacity, PRIMUS 26 offers the possibility to control even more complex grippers, and in addition to the highest load capacity among the PRIMUS models, it also has the greatest variety of strokes. The horizontal axis is available with a maximum stroke length of 6,000 mm. This makes applications with parts depositing behind the clamping unit of an injection molding machine possible.The maximum demolding stroke is 800 mm. Vertically, strokes of up to 1,400 mm can be realized, with the vertical stroke being performed via a single axis in PRIMUS 26, and via a telescopic axis in PRIMUS 26T. The horizontal axes are identical for both models.R8 TeachBoxTo be ready for major tasks, the robots come with up to four vacuum circuits, which are normally controlled by the WITTMANN iVac system, with all relevant parameter settings being controlled via the handheld TeachBox terminal. This offers the advantage that vacuum settings can be linked to the program and saved together with it.In case of a program change, there is also no need to enter the interior of the production cell to adjust the settings – which is unavoidable when digital vacuum switches are used.Like the first appliances of this series brought to market, these models are also controlled by the special PRIMUS version of the WITTMANN R8 TeachBox. The retention of the R8 programming and operating logic contributes decisively to shortening the introductory training periods and to accelerating familiarization. The standard version of the R8 control system can also be chosen as an alternative to the PRIMUS version.Source: CPRJ International

Aeyoung Park 2018-08-28

Nordson seeing 'Solid Performance' for 2018

- Nordson seeing 'Solid Performance' for 2018Hilton (ⓒNordson Group)Nordson Corp.'s polymer processing systems business, including screws and barrels, flat dies and pelletizers, has a solid backlog, CEO Michael Hilton said in a third-quarter conference call."We've had pretty solid performance in the quarter across most product lines within our plastics business, and [are] building a strong backlog in that particular area to the point where we're seeing some lead-times extend a bit, not only for us but across the industry," Hilton said in response to a question from a financial analyst.Nordson's plastics-related businesses include Xaloy screws and barrels, EDI flat dies and BKG pelletizers and melt delivery systems. Nordson is making some consolidation moves, with Xaloy production shifting into a single plant in Austintown, Ohio, while in Europe, it is building a global hub for BKG in Munster, Germany.Hilton said Nordson expects to have the consolidation completed by the of the calendar year."In the long run we'll expect to see more efficiencies," he said.The Westlake, Ohio-based company is traded on the Nasdaq. Companywide Nordson reported sales of $581 million for the third quarter, which ended July 31. That is a 1 percent decline — down 3 percent in organic sales — from the same period a year ago."Nordson delivered solid results despite challenging comparisons to our prior year's third quarter, where organic sales growth was 11 percent," Hilton said.Last year, Nordson bought Vention Medical's advanced technologies business, which has extrusion for complex medical tubing and balloon catheters.Hilton said the medical sector is going well, fueled by the fast-growing minimally invasive surgery area. "There are a lot of new products coming out of our medical business," he said, adding that Nordson's "design and development capabilities and our components fit nicely into those end markets."Financial analysts asked Hilton the impact of tariffs on Chinese-made goods on Nordson, which makes a broad range of equipment used for precision dispensing, fluid management, test and inspection and other areas. Nordson also makes EDI and BKG products in Shanghai.The United States has imposed tariffs on $16 billion Chinese imports, starting Aug. 23. The Trump administration has proposed tariffs on an additional $200 billion in Chinese imports. China has fired back with imports of its on exports from the United States."It's hard to say that we've seen any significant impact from the tariff discussions to date," Hilton said, adding that a team at Nordson is studying the issue.But another $200 billion in tariffs "would have some broader impacts," he said. "I would say that there's some added concern if the tariffs escalate more."Six full days of hearings on the $200 billion in tariffs began Aug. 20"In the second set [of proposed tariffs] we don't know all the details on the codes and we don't know what the Chinese response will be. So we'll have to wait and see," Hilton said.Hilton said it's too early to say how Nordson could mitigate the import duties, including by moving production around.

Aeyoung Park 2018-08-28

Gestica control system wins Red Dot Award

- Outstanding: prestigious design award for Arburg machine control system- Pioneering: Gestica offers look and feel of mobile devices- Coveted: Red Dot panel of judges evaluated more than 6,300 entries from 59 countries in 2018On 9 July 2018, the design world gathered in Essen, Germany, for the presentation of the internationally renowned "Red Dot Award" for design. This year more than 6,300 products from 59 countries were submitted. These included the Gestica control system from Arburg, whose look and feel won over the 39-strong Red Dot panel of experts. Following on from the freeformer in 2014, this is the second Arburg product to win this prestigious design award. This is evidence of both Arburg's innovative strength and of the great importance that the machine manufacturer attaches to product design.The Red Dot "Product Design" award, the origins of which date back to 1955, is bestowed on the best products in 48 categories each year. This year's awards went not only to products from premium brands Ferrari and Apple in their respective categories, but also to a product from Arburg: The Gestica control system received the "Red Dot Award 2018" in the "Industrial equipment, machinery and automation" category."The user-friendly design of the control system is inspired by the look and feel of smart mobile devices, while retaining an independent interpretation," was the assessment of the international panel of judges. Important criteria include the degree of innovation, as well as functionality, ergonomics and self-explanatory quality.Gestica combines aesthetics, functionality and ergonomicsThe judges tested the functionality of the Gestica control system using a simulator to obtain an impression of its benefits. One highlight is the "Easyslider" control element, which can be used to control movements simply and precisely during set-up of the injection moulding machine and display these via colour-variable LED technology. Acceleration and deceleration can be controlled by swiping along a bar at the edge of the screen. Furthermore, Arburg's pioneering control system is equipped with a 16:9 high-resolution Full HD screen featuring industry-standard multi-touch technology. As ergonomics play an important role in development together with functionality, the pivoting, height-adjustable operating panel is anatomically inclined.Successful partnershipProduct design has played a very important role at Arburg for decades, as Managing Partner with responsibility for Marketing, Juliane Hehl, explains: "Our aim is underscore our outstanding technology with an appropriately outstanding design. For this purpose, Arburg works closely with designer Jürgen R. Schmid, owner of the Design Tech design studio in Ammerbuch. Schmid explains that when it comes to Arburg products, his self-imposed challenge is always to successfully marry the look and functionality of the machines and control system. As well as the award-winning design of the Gestica control system, this successful cooperation has already resulted in the largest Arburg injection moulding machine Allrounder 1120 H, which obtained an iF award in March 2018, and the freeformer additive manufacturing system, which won a Red Dot Award in 2014.

Aeyoung Park 2018-08-07

Milacron Reports Solid Growth

- Milacron Holdings Corp. reported a solid second quarter with record sales, plus gains in new orders and profit▲ Micron's Tom Goeke addresses the media at the company exhibit at NPE2018. And for any observers wondering about the impact of tariffs on the largest U.S. plastics machinery company, CEO Tom Goeke said U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, and components from China, amount to only 0.8 percent of sales.Goeke credited the results to continued growth in Milacron's consumables business as well as the high-growth regions of China and India, where the company has manufacturing operations.In a July 26 conference call, Goeke told financial analysts that all the racket about tariffs did impact orders, but things are returning to normal."What we did see at the announcement of the tariffs up until maybe two weeks ago was a lot of discussion of what's going to happen about placing orders. And I'd say in the last two or three weeks, it's resumed a very good clip," he said.Goeke addressed the tariff issue both in his prepared remarks and answering questions from analysts. He said Milacron can take four actions to mitigate higher costs from the tariffs. One is price increases, which he said the company has already implemented in some cases."We've had some pretty good success moving price in the first two quarters and we seem to be going pretty well in the third quarter," he said.The second area is negotiating prices with vendors. He said Milacron can source some subassemblies from India and countries in Southeast Asia where the tariffs don't apply.Goeke said Milacron also is seeking exceptions to some of the tariffs. Before a May 15 government hearing on the tariffs, Goeke told the U.S. Trade Representative that the China tariffs should not be enacted on Chinese-made components that it relies on heavily, although Milacron did favor keeping tariffs on finished plastics machinery from China.And in the second-quarter financial results, Milacron said the largest exposure to tariffs comes from its machinery segment.The fourth tariff mitigation action would be modifying its own manufacturing supply chain, although Goeke said: "At this point we have not considered manufacturing, but our manufacturing footprint provides opportunities if changes are necessary."Financially, Milacron did well in the first half of 2018."Milacron continues momentum from the first quarter and delivered another solid performance" in the second quarter, Goeke said. Consumable items — including hot runners, DME mold components, aftermarket parts and service, and fluids for metalworking — increased by 9 percent from the first quarter.Consumables now account for 68 percent of sales.Overall second-quarter sales were $328.1 million, an increase of 6.1 percent from $309.2 million in the second quarter of 2017, or 3.7 when adjusted for currency fluctuations. New orders were up 2.2 percent, to $334.9 million, or stayed flat when figuring in currency.Milacron, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, reported a big jump in profit. Net profit was $14.9 million, up 32 percent vs. 2017 second quarter profit of $10.1 million. For the first half, net profit was $20.8 million compared with a loss of $14.5 million in the prior-year first half.Looking at business segments, plastics processing machinery — formally named Advanced Plastics Processing Technologies — second-quarter sales increased 2.2 percent over the second quarter of 2017, hitting $170.4 million.Machinery growth so far this year is coming from double-digit increase in India, partially offset by a decline in Europe, Milacron said.Aftermarket growth was 7 percent in the second quarter. Packaging and electronics are leading the way for machinery, partially offset by "continued automotive end market management," the company said.Milacron did not make any announcement about its sales during NPE2018 in May, but Goeke said the Cincinnati-brand press that the company showed in Orlando, with 2,250 tons of clamping force, marked its return to large-tonnage automotive presses.Goeke said orders for the new Cincinnati line are going well. "As we get further along Q3 and Q4, you get more competitive [on pricing] to make up orders," he said."The biggest selling point of equipment is not really cost structure but performance," Goeke said.Chief Financial Officer Bruce Chalmers gave an update on the shutdown of Milacron's Ferromatik injection press factory in Malterdingen, Germany, as the assembly is being relocated to other operations. The plant is working off a backlog and should ship its final machines in the fourth quarter, he said. Milacron will have a large severance package in that last quarter, he added.Sales of the Melt Delivery & Control Systems segment, which includes hot runners, coinjection molding systems, mold bases and components, and process control systems, generated sales of $124.1 million in the second quarter, an increase of 9.4 percent from the year-ago period.Sales to China and Europe primarily have driven the growth, the company said. Electronics and medical are among the strong end markets for the segment.

Aeyoung Park 2018-07-30