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Adac joint venture with Ainstein adds ‘brains to molded auto parts

Adac joint venture with Ainstein adds ‘brains' to molded auto partsAdac Automotive Inc.At CES, held Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas, Radac Automotive demonstrated its millimeter wave radar module. The patent-pending technology shows how gestures can be used to open a truck tailgate hands-free.Vehicles are changing and getting smarter, as mechatronics, electronics and autonomous functions supersede more traditional mechanical parts and features on the interior and exterior.For Adac Automotive Inc., a Tier 1 supplier and injection molder based in Cascade Township, Mich., near Grand Rapids, this technology progression affects its biggest product segment in the automotive market: door handles."Whether it's door handles or latches, all these things are purely mechanical parts becoming electronically driven with 'brains,'" Adac's Jeff Ackerman, executive vice president of global business development, said in a phone interview with Plastics News."We recognize that customers are going to start using things like gesture access to open a tailgate or open a liftgate, or open a power-sliding door or a side door. And they need obstacle detection technology, as well, when you have automated doors opening, so they don't hit things — people, objects and so forth," he explained.These changes to the product area nudged Adac to start looking into current and emerging vehicle technology, such as lidar, that would allow the company to integrate these features into its product DNA.The company determined radar was the best technology for the task because of its usefulness on the vehicle exterior, especially in varying weather conditions."New radar technology has the ability to discern minute detail … in all weather conditions," Ackerman said of millimeter wave radar, or mmWave radar, specifically. "It doesn't care about snow. It doesn't care about dirt on the outside of the car."A genius partnershipOn Jan. 2, just days before the start of CES in Las Vegas, Adac announced it was teaming up with Ainstein Inc., a Lawrence, Kan.-based startup specializing in smart radar systems and other advanced sensing technologies, to form a 50-50 joint venture that will design, develop and manufacture mmWave radar-based sensing products for the global automotive market.The joint venture, called Radac Automotive, is expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2020. Appointed leadership of the venture is still under consideration, but the workforce — about 15 employees to start — will include representatives from both Adac and Ainstein, Ackerman said.As for location, there is a "high likelihood" that operations will be set up in Michigan, he said.Radac Automotive will operate independently as a Tier 1 supplier of radar technology, products and services to the automotive industry. The joint venture's focus on mmWave radar-based sensing products will be used for applications such as proximity gesture access sensors, vehicle access and entry, parking assistance, object detection, advanced driver assistance systems, in-cabin sensing and vital sign monitoring, and autonomous driving."The biggest change for us as a company is that we've got to retain our roots but become much smarter on the software and electronics hardware side," Ackerman said. "For a few years now, we've been running around chasing electrical engineering talent and bringing them into the company, and really focused on what do we have to do to our products to stay relevant in 10 years? The biggest answer is these parts have to become smart, and we have to become smart with them."Through the strategic alliance, Ainstein will extend its expertise in radar technology to Adac's reputation as a Tier 1 automotive supplier. At CES, held Jan. 7-10, the two companies demonstrated the first Radac mmWave radar module. The patent-pending technology is designed to offer hands-free vehicle access."Ainstein recognizes the potential for our radar technology to be successful in the automotive industry and believes the strategic joint venture with Adac Automotive will streamline the process of bringing intelligent products to market," Andrew Boushie, Ainstein's vice president of strategy and partnerships, said in an emailed response. "This partnership successfully compresses the supply chain by bringing solutions to market that are fully integrated, facilitating the building of smarter vehicles."Adac has additional partnerships that expand its global reach. This includes an alliance with Germany's Witte Automotive GmbH and Wisconsin's Strattec Security Corp. in Vehicle Access Systems Technology, or VAST Automotive Group, which provides a footprint in Europe, Asia, India and Brazil. In addition, Adac has two facilities in Mexico through another joint venture, Adac Strattec de Mexico LLC.The company is ranked No. 42 on Plastics News' annual ranking of North American injection molders. Adac's injection molding sales for 2018 were $233 million, according to PN estimates."You see it with even our OEM customers who are massive companies. They're all partnering with people because they need the expertise that is … too hard to build organically fast enough," Ackerman said of strategic partnerships in the automotive industry. "I think partnerships are one of the answers to get where you want to be and leverage yourself."With Ainstein's expertise in smart radar systems, Ackerman said it also provides an opportunity for Adac to broaden its product focus to other areas of the vehicle beyond door handles, such as parts on the bumper or the liftgate — basically anywhere you can integrate radar."You certainly want to hold on to the core things that made you a good company in the first place, but you have to evolve and pay attention to what's going on around you and adapt," he explained. "We're not a tiny company, but in the automotive space, we're not very big. We survive by trying to pay attention and get down the road of where you have to be in five years, not tomorrow."Source : https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/adac-joint-venture-ainstein-adds-brains-molded-auto-parts Edit : handler

Editor 2020-01-26

Stäubli robots answer automotive's needs for productivity, reliability and collaboration

Stäubli robots answer automotive's needs for productivity, reliability and collaborationAudrey LaForestThe TX2touch is Stäubli's highest version of collaboration annd its safest cobot on the market, according to Olivier Cremoux, the company's business development manager for North America.Novi, Mich. — Every industry has specific needs when it comes to production. Those requirements vary widely depending on the parts you are producing and the customers you are serving.In automotive, the main needs are productivity and reliability, according to Olivier Cremoux, business development manager for North America at Stäubli Corp., the U.S. subsidiary of Switzerland's Stäubli Group. The company specializes in three core areas: connectors, such as mold clamping systems and quick-release couplings; robotics; and machinery for textile production."That's a big concern in the automotive market — the reliability — because they cannot have a shutdown of the production," Cremoux said during a technology days event in September at its Novi training facility and service center.The Novi location officially opened in June 2018. It houses the company's sales, service and engineering staff who primarily support Stäubli's Tier 2 and Tier 3 automotive parts supplier customers."You cannot have downtime in the production," he said. "So [automotive customers] want a system to be performing at this level of productivity all the time."During the tech days event, the company had live demonstrations of all the things its robots can do, especially parts picking, assembly and collaborative applications. Examples included automated parts handling with the new TS2 60 SCARA (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm), a TX 90L bin-picker; and a TX2touch 60, a six-axis collaborative robot showing an Asyril flex feeding application."The idea is really to present new solutions to the customers, to help them think out of the box. … How can I bring a little bit of automation, but still maintain some operators and collaborate with my operators?" he explained. "So we try to bring solutions, concepts, and to make them think about how they could develop their actual production process."Collaboration — between Stäubli and its customers as well as machine to machine and machine to operator, thanks in part to Industry 4.0 connectivity — has been "really pushed by the automotive market," Cremoux said."Their three main requirements are: I want more productivity, meaning basically I want to get a return on investments faster on my robotic solution. I want reliability. I don't want any problems on my line — no time for that. I want more collaboration because I want to be able to combine operators and robotics working at the same time."But if operators and robots are working side-by-side, safety becomes the No. 1 priority.With the TX2touch, for example — Stäubli's highest version of collaboration and its safest cobot on the market, Cremoux said — the robot slows down as soon as an operator enters the working environment. It is also outfitted with a safe touch skin that can be up to 20 millimeters thick. When an operator touches the skin, the robot stops."If I come closer, I'm detected, and this is a safe-stop," Cremoux said while demonstrating the TX2touch's safety features."If I touch him, he will stop, meaning I can be working close to the robotic system. If there is a risk of damage, he will not move. If there is a risk of collision, he will stop," he explained. "It's collaboration with different safety functions."For the plastics industry, in general, cartesian or linear robots are still used more often, especially if it's a basic or cheap part that just needs to be unloaded from an injection molding machine.If the plastic part has added value or requires secondary processes, though, that's when five- or six-axis robots make more sense, Cremoux said. This is especially true in automotive, where parts can get complex and a higher level of quality is demanded."As soon as you look at automotive, you look at a little bit more complex parts with higher quality requirements. An automotive manufacturer would want his part inspected before it's shipped to him," Cremoux said. "All of this can be done, linked to the molding process. … We give the possibility for the customer to choose what does he really want and what does he need, and we guide him."source: https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/staubli-robots-answer-automotives-needs-productivity-reliability-and-collaboration

editor 2019-12-28

FDA warns of medical device shortages

Editor 2019-11-25

The Age of Plastics: 30 years of auto innovations

The Age of Plastics: 30 years of auto innovations▲General Motors -GM's EV1 had a short life, but it managed to eke out a win for its structural battery tray.The Society of Plastics Engineers launched the Automotive Innovation awards in 1971, recognizing breakthrough uses of plastics in the auto industry.One consistent rule throughout the process has been that the part had to be on a production car, not just a concept — even if it was a low production niche vehicle.By the time Plastics News began publishing in 1989, SPE had already honor composite exterior body panels, tailgate assembly parts, rear quarter windows, instrument panels and radiator fan shrouds.The awards process recognizes parts in a series of categories, including exteriors, interiors, powertrain and safety, then the grand award winner is picked from among those category winners by judges from the auto industry, research and the media.So to get an idea of what's happened in the industry, lets survey past grand award winners.1989▲WikipediaCarroll Shelby's personal CSX. Chrysler made 500 of the cars, and won the SPE Automotive Innovation grand prize in 1090 for its composite wheels.Composite wheels on Chrysler's Dodge Shelby CSX, made of sheet molding compound and XMC. The CSX was a halo vehicle for Chrysler, with the letters standing for Carroll Shelby Experimental. The company made only 500 of the cars, including one for the legendary designer.1990General Motors' exterior door panel made of polycarbonate/ABS.1991▲Chrysler- Chrysler won the grand prize in 1991 as it introduced integrated child seats in its minivans.Chrysler leaned heavily on the family aspect of the minivan when it introduced rear seats with an integrated child's safety seat, made with polypropylene, glass mat thermoplastics and expanded MPPE. The integrated seats were so popular for a time that Chrysler even offered them in sedans, including the Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid and Eagle Vision. The child seats were eventually dropped though, and disappeared once minivans began offering "stow and go" seating instead.1992Chrysler's instrument panel systems made using PP/GMT, MPPE, PP ad polyurethane foam.1993Ford Motor Co.'s POM-based front suspension stabilizer link.1994▲Sabic - When General Motors won the grand prize in 1994, it marked a turning point for thermoplastics taking over in air intake manifolds.In the 1990s, most air intake manifolds were made of aluminum. But nylon was creeping up in use. In 1994, SPE honored GM's nylon copolymer manifold, recognizing a material shift which by 2000 saw plastics taking over the bulk of production. And today the question isn't will the manifold be plastic, but what kind of plastic.1995Ford Motor Co.'s integrated front end system, made with SMC.1996It's the start of the electric car era — or the modern one at least — as GM wins for the PP and GMT structural battery tray used on its EV1. The EV1 was produced and leased (no outright sales allowed) by GM from 1996 to 1999. When GM stopped making the car, it prompted outcry from fans and a documentary movie, "Who Killed The Electric Car." In late 2010, GM was back in the EV car market with the Volt, and now electric vehicle sales are growing globally.1997Ford for its use of recycled nylon from carpet into car parts.1998Mitsubishi Motors for its I section bumper beam made of PP and GMT.1999DaimlerChrysler for its fan shroud and reservoir assembly made of PP.2000▲Society of Plastics Engineers - The injection molded energy absorbing cones used by Ford in 2000 represented an option from expanded foam.Ford looked beyond expanded polystyrene and expanded polypropylene for the energy absorbers within its bumper systems. The high density polyethylene, injection molded absorbers were cone-like shapes between the fascia and the bumper beam, designed to collapse and take some of the impact stress. And the systems promised a 79 percent cost savings.2001General Motors experimented with clay nanocomposites in an optional step assist for its Safari and Astro vans.2002It looked like a breakthrough. When DaimlerChrysler began using molded-in-color, multi-layer film on bumper fascia it promised to allow companies to shut down paint shops. Suppliers of fascia and other exterior trim, it was believed, would be able to deliver finished parts that matched body colors, but without the headaches of running a paint shop. But after a few attempts beyond that initial use, the film program mostly died out for the auto industry. There were too many variables between the OEM paint shops and the film in the long run.2003DaimlerChrysler roof module made with a PC copolymer.2004Ford Motor Co.'s door trim made with an integrated acoustic module to replace standard speaker components, produced in PP.2005▲U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Honda included a lockable "trunk" in the SMC bed of its Ridgeline pickup truck.Honda Motor Corp.'s first truck, the Ridgeline, promised to be different. It would be assembled on the same line as Honda's cars and SUVs, which simplified production. And for plastics suppliers, the bed was something to brag about: An SMC composite complete with a lockable in-bed "truck" which would allow truck owners to safely store items out of sight. (And the bed even had drainage holes, which would allow it to be filled with ice and become a massive cooler for tailgating parties.2006DaimlerChrysler's blow molded front and rear bumper system, made with thermoplastic polyolefin.2007General Motors for its use of backlighting with color-converting PC.2008▲Inergy - The twin sheet blow molded tank used by BMW.The blow molded HDPE fuel tank got more sophisticated when BMW began using a twin-sheet system developed by Inergy Auomotive Systems – now fully owned by Plastic Omnium – which integrated key parts like sensors and the fuel pump inside the tank. That reduced the potential for evaporative emissions from connections, allowing plastic tanks to improve their environmental footprint.2009General Motors used a radio case developed by Delphi Corp. which was molded in PC/ABS with integrated faraday shielding.2010Ford's 2011 Superduty diesel pickup was the first high-volume truck application to use an all-plastic system as part of its diesel emission control program.2011▲Ford Motor Co. - Ford worked with Trexel Inc. and other suppliers to begin using MuCell in an instrument panel.Ford became the first major automaker to use Trexel Inc.'s microcellular foaming process for a big part, using the MuCell process on two parts on the 2012 Ford Escape sport utility vehicle and the European-based Ford Kuga crossover vehicle — the substrate retainer and the topper.2012General Motors used TPO as part of an upgraded design for its Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and GMC Denali crossovers to help drive sales.2013Nissan Motor Co.'s Rogue crossover became an early adopter of an all-olefenic exterior tailgate, using by PP and TPO molded by supplier Magna International and added as a complete system at Nissan's assembly line.2014Ford used TPO for its Active Glove Box.2015▲General Motors - GM used hollow glass microspheres to lighten the weight of its composite body panels on the Corvette in 2015.GM replaced calcium carbonate in the conventional SMC material for its body panels with hollow glass microspheres produced by 3M Co., along with a proprietary surface treatment to reduce mass by 43 percent compared to conventional materials.2016Ford used a nylon and TPO composite for the suspension in upper and lower seat backs in the Lincoln Continental.2017Ford created a front-end module for the 2018 Expedition with what it said was "possibly the largest" two-shot injection molded module in production at that point, using a glass fiber-reinforced PP.2018Ford took home the top award for the all-plastic vacuum generation system for brake assist on the 2017 F-150 pickup. The thermoplastic part achieves a 40 percent weight reduction and a 25 percent cost savings over current pump systems.source : https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/age-plastics-30-years-auto-innovations

editor 2019-10-26

LS Premium Injection Molder the ONE* Series Technology Introduction

LS Premium Injection Molder the ONE* Series (500~3,300 Tons)Technology IntroductionThe injection molder is a key manufacturing facility for the production of plastic parts used in medical, packaging, automobile, teletronics and home appliances according to the classification of the front-end industries, and LS Premium Injection Molder - the ONE* Series consists of 500 tons to 3,300 tons based on the mold clamping force. It is producing from 1 kg to 40 kg of parts by the criteria of weight, and its main market is medium & large sized automobiles, packaging and home appliances.Comparing to the conventional 2-mold composite injection machines, it also has an ability to mount a large & heavy mold, an improved productivity (Drive cycle time: world best), and an equivalent location reproducibility as advanced companies, and an CSI (Connected and Smart Injection) function enabling flexible respond to smart injection plant implementation for customers. In aspects of energy use, it uses the power saving servo motor as a standard and is a composite hydraulic injection machine consisting of 2-mold in mechanical point of view. It has the great advantage of 10% to 20% smaller machine size compared to toggle type with 3-mold and of being free to adjust the maximum mold opening stroke.The medium/large sized domestic injection machine market shall meet the quality expectations of Korean conglomerates, which have grown as a leading global company, but the present status of domestic equipment industry is very different from its level of expectation. In addition, unlike the manufacturing industry, which has grown continuously based on domestic market, it is the trend that many companies expanded their investment in overseas factories rather than domestic.In aspects of productivity, the rate of injection machine adoption from advanced manufacturers is rising, and in case of small/medium sized companies, it is progressing to expand the introduction of Chinese machines that are entering the market with low sales price.Accordingly, the injection molder business team of LS Mtron became to develop the advanced injection molder having the excellent mechanical specifications and performances in order to secure a base platform of hydraulic injection machine that can respond to productivity improvement through the implementation of smart factory, and resolve the business difficulties through entering into new overseas market dominated by EU and Japanese companies rather than settling for the domestic market.LS Premium injection molder - the ONE* Series is designed considering the control driving system for improving accuracy and reproducibility of stop location from the stage of development, as the target for the improvement of productivity through mold protection and robot take-out error reduction. In addition, as the injection devices were modularized to support the use of screws with various diameter, the investment costs would be reduced by selecting and mounting the proper injection devices.In addition, it has the following advantages: the development of injection equipment with simplified hydraulic lines makes quick and easy replacement of the barrel assembly, the Tie-Bar pooling apparatus is introduced to enable the mounting of mold using hand-push car in the factory with low ceiling height, and S/W modules (CSI-C, CSI-M) which can control peripheral devices from the injection machine itself were developed to prevent the operator's error and reduce the detection time of facility malfunction.◆ Key Functions & Quality of the ONE* Series 1) World best level of dry cycle time, mold open & close time, position reproducibility ±0.2mm - High Pressure of hydraulic system: Increase the mold open & close time due to compact hydraulic cylinder- Harf-Nut Structure improvement: Harf-Nut fast & simultaneous up-down motion- Mold Transfer Friction Minimization: Remove the Tie-Bar bush of transfer mold, Apply the sliding bush for high load.- Application of KEBA Controller: Precise control through closed loop control- SSI Type High-Precision Digital Location Sensor Mounting: Resolution 1um, Repetitive Precision Degree ±0.001% or less- Application of High-Performance & High-Capacity Electronic Proportional Valve: Hysteresis 1 à 0.1% or less, & Repeatability 0.5 or 0.05% or less 2) High-weight mold mounting available, clean environmental implementation - Improvement of the structure of fixing and moving mold supporting equipment structure: Increase allowable mold load (1% à 2.5%) - Application of sliding bush for high load: Apply the semi-permanent self-lubrication, Maintenance unnecessary, Apply the oil recovery system 3) Change the structure of harfnut, improve the cleanness of operating oil, and strengthen the ability of oil leak prevention - Reduce the harfnut tightening time more than 30% - Change the operation form harfnut simultaneous left & right motion to simultaneous up & down motion: Tie-Bar horizontal support effect in case of harfnut close - Improve the shape of Tie-Bar & harfnut screw (Trapezoidal shaped screw à U-shaped screw): Uniform mold clamping force, improve the stability of mold open. - Improve the cleanliness of operating oil tank: Special coating inside the tank - Reduce the operating flow: 3,400l à 2,000l, based on 1,800 tons - No use of welding piping: Galvanized expansion pipe, FKM sealing applied pipe fitting, Apply O-ring type hose fitting 4) Injection device structure change - Quick Barrel Change System: In case of Barrel assembly change, barrel replacement available without turning of the injection device.- Application of Barrel Support System: Prevent the deflection- Moment Zero Nozzle Touch Structure: No moment due to the eccentricity by arrangement of the nozzle cylinder parallel to the barrel - Strengthen the modulation response5) Application of automatic Tie-Bar separating system - One-touch Automatic Tie-Bar Separating/ Disassembly, Assembly Unnecessary: Easy mold mounting in a low ceiling factory, and hand-push car for mold unnecessaryFor more information on 'LS Premium Injection Molder - the ONE* Series', please contact website (http://www.lsinjection.com) or LS Mtron, injection molding system Division Tel : +82 31-8045-9742

editor 2019-10-09

'Enjoy Innovation' with Wittmann Battenfeld at upcoming K 2019

'Enjoy Innovation' with Wittmann Battenfeld at upcoming K 2019The Austrian machine manufacturer will present a series of Industry 4.0 solutions▲Wittmann Battenfeld An Eco Power injection moulding machine from Wittmann BattenfeldMachine and automation manufacturerWittmann Battenfeld has released details covering which systems it plans todemonstrate at the upcoming K Show 2019.The K fair will be held at MesseDusseldorf, October 16-23.Under the banner "EnjoyInnovation," the machine maker will showcase intelligent machinesusing adaptive algorithms which have the capability to adjust themselvesaccording to the ambient conditions.As part of this, an all-electricEcoPower 55/350 equipped with the HiQ-Flow, HiQMelt and HiQ-Metering softwarepackages will be available for demonstrations.This set up will producepolycarbonate clothes pegs using a four-cavity mold supplied by Austriantooling specialist Lechner.These systems, plus all auxiliarycomponents, will be integrated into the machine’s Unilog B8 control system viaWittmann 4.0.With this suite of hardware andsoftware, the system will be able to check whether the connected auxiliariesare sufficient to support the selected product data set, or if additionalequipment is needed.Additionally, the cell can compensateautomatically for material viscosity fluctuations, supporting stable output andhelping to eliminate scrap.Wittmann notes that bad parts will bedeliberately produced in order to demonstrate the company’s Max 9 granulator,also present on the stand.This and a series of other WittmannBattenfeld demonstrations will be available at Hall 15, stand C06.source : https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/enjoy-innovation-wittmann-battenfeld-upcoming-k-2019

editor 2019-09-22

How effective is your mold safety system?

How effective is your mold safety system?MD of Sumitomo (SHI) Demag, Nigel Flowers, discusses tech and methods for preventing damage to expensive injection molding machine tooling▲Sumitomo (SHI) Demag ActiveProtect from Sumitomo (SHI) DemagGiven that some high-end multi-cavityautomotive and medical part molds can exceed £500,000 (US $554,000), moldtooling doesn’t come cheap. In fact, some cost more than the injection moldingmachine itself! A trusted safety system which can prevent irreparable damage tothese sensitive tools is on every molders' wish list.Safety of the mold can be compromisedif components do not eject properly, if a foreign object enters the mold inproduction during the closing and opening sequence, and when too much clampforce is applied.Very often, mold protection doesn’treceive the attention warranted. In part, this can be due to the complexity ofsetting up the system, which requires a certain skill level, particularly withregard to understanding clamp forces. Additionally, few injection moldingsuppliers offer active mold safety solutions that can sense and reactinstantaneously to an obstruction.Sumitomo (SHI) Demag providescustomers with a range of options, catering for the very latest hi-tech,all-electric machines, right through to hydraulic machines, and everything inbetween. Typically, machinery suppliers usemotor torque or tie bar loading measurements to gauge the mold status onelectric machines. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag remains the only known company to offera mold safety system featuring high-resolution sensors built into the togglesystem itself, claims UK managing director Nigel Flowers. These sensors arepositioned close to the point where force is applied and links to the NC5machine control panel, detecting and transmitting changes in the forcesignature during the mold closing sequence.Forming part of the company’s activerange, the sensor safety system — known as activeProtect — is available asstandard and can be retrofitted to machines featuring dynamic servo drives.This includes the company’s all-electric IntElect models and fast-cyclingEl-Exis SP range.On top of safetyOn these machines, thehigh-resolution sensor is located on the first link directly behind the movingclamping platen on the offside. The benefit of positioning the sensor close tothe point of force application is even the smallest tensile or compressionstrains are measured. It means that any condition that may result in the setmold safety force being exceeded is instantly addressed.Nigel explains: “The signal producedby activeProtect is so accurate it can detect even the slightest change inforce patterns. Force values are converted in the transducer into a 0 to10-volt signal, which is immediately transmitted to the machine’s NC5 operatingcontrol system. At this point, the real values of closing force, piston speedand stroke are compared with the master calculations, enabling the machine toreact and stop before the mold faces touch. It’s like a chain reaction, withthe entire mold safety decision and response taking place in less than 10milliseconds.”For added mold protection,activeProtect has now been extended to monitor the opening strokes. This helpsto ensure mechanical mold elements, for example unscrewing devices, areprotected from damage.Other technology availableAdditionally, users of the IntElectmachines can benefit from enhanced ejector control technology. Sumitomo (SHI)Demag’s latest advancement — Synchronized Ejector Operation — ensures thatcomponents are clear of the mold before it closes again. As well as preventing fallingparts being crushed, it helps to mitigate damage to expensive mold tools."In an ideal world the parts areejected with zero inertia and drop in a central line out of the mold space. Itisn’t so much of a challenge for users of hydraulic machines, as plastic partsflow out of the mold in a cascade-like waterfall. In all-electric machines,this constant stream can be difficult to replicate. That’s because when thetoggle clamp operates faster than the ejector mechanism, there’s less controlover how and where the molded components will fall,” explains Nigel.Through the application of thistechnology, which enables synchronous operation of mold and ejector, theejector speed is adapted to the master mold speed. If the mold speed is sloweddown, the ejector is prohibited from moving closer than 20mm towards the mold.Thermal imaging is another techniquethat can be used to control the optimum point to eject parts from the mold. Itcan also help to ensure that the mold is clear of components prior to moldclosing. Attached to the fixed platen on the machine, this infrared technologyuses heat to determine if parts have been ejected from the cavities.The benefit for many is thermalimaging provides users of hybrid and hydraulic machines with a safety solution.“Compared to vision systems, thermal imaging is approximately a third of theinvestment cost. Additionally, thermal imaging can also be used to monitor thetemperature of parts, and document important production parameters,” notesNigel.Help for hydraulicsFor the large volume of molders stillusing hydraulic-only machinery, safety systems are conventional and morelimited. “Should an event happen within a mold in a hydraulic machine, theclosing phase will continue, albeit at a slower speed, pushing gently in thehope it will come to a standstill before any permanent damage from theobstruction is done to the mold,” emphasizes Nigel.“Setting these safety parameters isreliant on machine operators having the skills and finesse to identify theregion in the closing stroke where the mold is most at risk,” adds Nigel.Typically, this is just before thetwo mold faces touch. Operators then set a slower speed and force based on thehydraulic pressure level. Getting it wrong can lead to increased cycle timesand consequently lower output.The passive nature of this safetysystem is its biggest drawback. It relies on an operative incrementallyconverting the toggle system characteristics and cylinder diameter to thehydraulic pressure to determine the most likely collision point. If, as theclamping proceeds, this pressure level is exceeded, the system pressure reliefvalve opens and the mold stops.Additionally, the safety system hasto account for and overcome the mechanical resistance of the mold (cheeks andslides etc.). This often requires increased closing force, which again candamage the mold.A slightly more sophisticated safetyoption was introduced with second generation machines. Featuring toggleclamping technology and more powerful control systems, machines were able tocalculate the mold position from the crosshead position by storing a model ofthe toggle system in the control. With this system, a consistent force isaccomplished by adjusting the pressure according to how close together the platensare.“Given that a well maintainedprecision mold running 10-second cycles should have a lifespan exceeding 10million cycles over five years, let alone the price tag these tools command,it’s worth giving your mold safety system the attention it warrants,” endsNigel. source : https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/how-effective-your-mold-safety-system

Editor 2019-09-22

Smart packaging shapes a healthier world

Smart packaging shapes a healthier worldThe word “smart” or “intelligent” has become a buzzword in the development of many industries, and packaging is no exception. The latest smart packaging solutions offer new possibilities of more e ffectiveness, convenience and personalization for pharmaceutical and health related products, empowering individuals and caregivers to achieve better health outcomes. Nutritional supplement subscription service Stride Nutrition.According to the research of Mordor Intelligence, the global smart packaging market valued at US$33.19 billion in 2017, and is expected to reach US$42.75 billion by 2023, registering a CAGR of 4.15% over the forecast period of 2018-2023.The driving forces include the ever-increasing demand for longer product shelf lives and safety, customers’ fast-paced lifestyle, as well as the technological developments, such as high-tech sensors, mobile apps, etc. In the medical sector, smart packaging is bringing more creative and value-added functions to pharmaceutical and health related products. These functions mainly include tracking, monitoring and notifications that ensure effective medication and nutrition.New digital system ensures effective dispensing trackingSchreiner MediPharm, a Germany-based global provider of specialty pharmaceutical labeling presented its new “Smart Vial Kit” digital therapy monitoring system during Pharmapack 2019 held in Paris, France.The Smart Vial Kit enables electronic tracking and monitoring of medication dispensing and intake. It is a multi-vial box covered with a cardboard layer of numbered, perforated areas corresponding to individual compartments.The innovative product is well-suited for use in clinical trials. When the user opens a perforation at the starter tab, the removal of the vial is tracked by means of integrated, printed electronics. Thanks to its medication adherence monitoring capability, enhanced and more reliable data quality is achieved.Compared with conventional, manual monitoring, the digital tool reduces documentation requirements, provides greater flexibility in adapting trial designs and reduces the trial period before the new medicine is approved.Besides, the smart packaging technology is also adaptable to other primary containers such as syringes. Instead of cardboard boxes, blister packs containing several containers can be equipped with the technology as well.Customized subscription service helps maintaining healthier habitsSmart pill device and app developer Pillsy has launched its new user-oriented nutritional supplement subscription service “Stride Nutrition”.Stride Nutrition combines the adherence technology with various mail-order nutritional products to enhance users' control of, and adherence to, nutritional supplement regimens.The service is unique in that it combines the convenience of high-quality dietary supplements, delivered to customers' doorsteps, with Pillsy's Bluetooth-enabled smart cap and mobile app to help individuals form and maintain healthier habits.Each subscriber's first shipment includes a free Pillsy smart cap which, when paired with the Pillsy mobile app, automatically tracks doses, send intelligent reminders if users forget to take their scheduled dose, and automatically orders refills when it detects that there are fewer than 10 days' worth of supply remaining.In addition, subscribers are also able to update dosage settings, view their dosage history and share information with family caregivers, as required. The same underlying platform is also being applied to pharmaceuticals and it could be applied to other consumable products too.Smart water bottle and cap for hydration coachingThe European Food Safety Authority recommends a daily intake of 2.5 liters of water for men and 2 liters of water for women, including around 70-80% sought from beverages.The Hidrate Spark 2.0 by Hidrate Inc. provides a funny way to keep people stay hydrated with its glimmering “lights” and smart sensor devices. The water bottle holds 24 fl oz (710 ml) and comes in several eye-catching colors.The bottle comes included with a sensor stick, powered by two coin cell batteries. When people drink out of the bottle, the sensor measures how much they drank and transfers this information to the hydration app, which tracks progress throughout the day, week and month.Besides, the bottle integrates with fitness trackers, and customized goals can be created specifically. Notifications give new and funny reminders when people are away from their bottles.Having a similar idea, Danone incorporates the smart Coach2O cap into its Spanish mineral water brand Font Vella, enabling consumers to track their levels of hydration.Danone developed the devices with Water.io, an innovative smart packaging company which turned the package into an active product that helps the consumer when using the product.It works by clipping onto the existing bottle cap and recording the volume of water taken in by the consumer. It can also remind people to drink using a discreet series of “blinks”, and comes complete with an accompanying app that allows consumers to set daily hydration goals and adjust the fitting to their individual requirements.In this way, the Coach2O cap provides a considerable solution in helping consumers keep track of their hydration levels and set goals using an accompanying app, based on their unique preferences and health requirements.All in all, thanks to technology developments, more companies are leveraging smart packaging to bring their expertise in healthcare to consumers through personalized solutions. China Plastic & Rubber Journal (CPRJ) - Apr 2019 IssueSource:China Plastic & Rubber JournalBy Vivi Wenedit: plastics handler http://www.ihandler.co.kr

Editor 2019-06-28