A tour of the digital showroom
The command centre was clearly laid out with a globe in the centre showing the locations. Doors led to the mould / hotrunner / PMC technology and preform production areas. We simply pressed the button on the controller and walked through. MHT Mold & Hotrunner Technology AG’s digital showroom, located at booth S19083, offered a unique experience that combines information with hands-on engagement. It made its debut at the NPE.
The team, led by Christian Tilsner (Technical Director) and David Bock (R&D), had developed innovative ways to present the product and production worlds in a modern way. Users could move through the rooms themselves with an Xbox controller and decide what they want to see. For example, you could see a cold side with a movable stripper plate, a film about AFM (Active Flow Moulding) or (post mold) cooling solutions. Text overlays provided clear and concise technical information about what is being shown.
David Bock was particularly excited about the built-in configurator. “You can change the cavity, gate or thread on a stack or select the Optistack variant.” Even details that can not be seen in reality were revealed in sectional views, for example: the innovative two-piece design of the core, the 3D-printed cooling tube or the tried-and-tested gate insert. The cooling of the preform was also illustrated in relation to the geometric effects of different stack designs.
The showroom is programmed on a gaming platform, and it’s clear from the outset that this is the right choice. It’s playful, and you’re drawn to look here and there. Christian Tilsner was clear about the objective of the interactive format: “We wanted to make the MHT world tangible for customers and sales, no matter where they are, and with the streaming version we have found the ideal solution. At trade fairs, such as the NPE, the offer simply puts everyone in a good mood.” He was confident that this is just the first step and that further products and services will soon follow.
