PETpla.net Insider 04/ 2013

PREFORM PRODUCTION 20 PET planet insider Vol. 14 No. 04/13 www.petpla.net Preform machines of Athena Automation Ltd. Ontario Canada – An interview with Robert Schad 84, and still going strong! By Waldemar Schmitke, Editor at large, PETplanet Robert Schad, who founded Husky Injection Molding Sys- tems in 1953, is once more building injection moulding machines in Vaughan, ON, Canada. Now a sprightly 84 years of age, he has apparently lost none of his passion for injection moulding machines. With the establishment of Athena Automation Ltd., a privately owned company, he has the freedom to implement ideas which are the culmina- tion of his decades-long experience. He is able to focus on the essentials rather than getting bogged down in big com- pany bureaucracy. Working with Sipa Italy, global supplier of end-to-end PET solutions, gives Athena the opportunity to explore the possibilities of their machine for PET preform applications. requirements and applications. Robert Schad is convinced that this is the way forward, and to back up his belief he cites the many discussions he has had with leading players in the market. For PET applications, however, further steps are required. In particu- lar, a significant element involves the development of PET-specific machines and system components coupled with the need to integrate the system with preform tools and peripherals. Having done all this, a global sales structure needs to be put in place, supported by a comprehensive after-sales and application-specific service. Exclusive partnership between Athena Automation and Sipa It was at this juncture, at the end of 2012, that an exclusive partnership was sealed between Athena Automation and Sipa. This collaboration is far-reaching and extends from the joint develop- ment of machine elements, screw geometries, unloading and post-mould cooling techniques, and right through to a common purchasing strategy. Both are privately run companies that adopt a flexible approach to development and rapid implementation. These are the cornerstones of the partnership. F.l.t.r.: Enrico Gribaudo, General Manager Sipa Italy and Robert Schad, Chairman Athena Canada Athena Automation has a total of 60 employees, of whom more than 90% are engineers and technicians. From scratch they have developed a line of two-platen hybrid injection mould- ing machines with clamping forces of 150 and 300t using a hybrid machine concept, which, for Athena, is the key to the market, in conjunction with a clearly configured, modular and accessible structure. This enables the company to react rapidly to changing market