PETpla.net Insider 01+02 / 2019

CAPS & CLOSURES 22 PET planet Insider Vol. 20 No. 01+02/19 www.petpla.net The fourth generation of El-Exis SP Maximum performance in minimum time With a market share exceeding 20%, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag claims to be the leading manufacturer of injection moulding machinery for plastic packaging. Launched twenty years ago, the hybrid El-Exis SP is the main contributor to this success. Its fourth generation is quicker and one of the advanced machinery on the market. Located in Schwaig near Nurem- berg, Germany, the injection moulding machine manufacturer has adapted the high-speed machine from version to version to meet the increasingly exact- ing demands of packaging producers. The fourth generation was introduced in 2016 and is primarily distinguished by its optimised use of energy and resources – one of the most pressing challenges in engineering given the global increase of production volumes. Depending on production parameters, it requires up to 20% less energy when compared to its predecessor. The hydraulic accumula- tor enables the achievement of injection speeds of up to 1,000 mm/s and accel- erations of up to 4g. Intelligent accu- mulator control simultaneously ensures process-dependent, variable accumula- tor allocation. More than 172,000 closing caps per hour To produce standardised clos- ing systems, maximum mould speeds with short strokes and optimal dosing performance have to be possible. El- Exis SP meets these requirements and has a reliable and safe operation with cycles far below 2.5s over many years. Thanks to the fast clamping unit and the dynamic ejector, maximum produc- tion output can be achieved. Special solutions have been optimised specifi- cally for this application, such as the water distribution for mould cooling. Clamping force of 8,000kN The hybrid concept combines the high speed demanded by the customer with availability and reliability in a single machine.“Right from the outset, devel- opment of the El-Exis focused on the demand that performance, service life and energy consumption should play equally important roles and that no sac- rifices should be made in this respect,” explained Arnaud Nomblot, Director Business Development Packaging at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag. The dynamic hybrid drive ensures a maximum level of performance and excellent process consistency and accuracy, both during acceleration and braking. “In the area of packaging, we primar- ily benefit from two facts. First of these is our specific experience in this sector, for example during the design of mould clamping plates which, thanks to finite ele- ment analysis, exhibit consid- erably superior rigidity to con- ventional plates and, secondly, the high vertical range of manufacturing in our company. Crucial machine elements such as screws, plates or columns are manufactured by us rather than being purchased outside”, continues Nomblot. “This direct control of manufacturing precision is a decisive factor in ensuring that the machine meets all requirements in the high-speed range and works reli- ably and accurately over the years.” Sumitomo (SHI) Demag meets the growing demand for large machinery for multiple cavities by expanding the clamping force range of the El-Exis SP series. With maximum clamping forces of 8,000kN, the machine impresses through a dry cycle time of 2.05s during daily operation. Cycle times of less than 4s for the production of milk product containers (500g) in an 8-cavity IML mould underline the aspiration of the machine manufacturer to set the high- speed benchmark on the market with the El-Exis SP. Broad application spectrum as standard feature Next to the ejection rate, repeatabil- ity, availability, efficiency and sustain- ability, versatility has since become an equally important development driver. The El-Exis SP opens up a wide pro- cess window to the user when it comes to cycle times and process parameters such as injection speed. IML, two- component and injection compression moulding are also standard. Injection compression moulding in particular is one of the technologies at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag that is suitable for more sustainable, higher quality and, simul- taneously, more cost-effective packag- ing production. A high precision level and the injection speed of El-Exis SP machines transform injection compres- sion moulding into speed compression, even in the standard version. For exam- ple, trays made of a PP Mfi 20 with a flow path wall density ratio of 450:1 are produced in a cycle time of 3.5s in a 2+2 cavity level mould developed and patented by Plastisud. This technique achieves wall thicknesses up to 25% thinner and, consequently, a lower part weight with comparable product charac- teristics. In addition, the customer can run processes with around 30% lower clamping forces. www.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu CAPS & CLOSURES Over 172,000 closing caps (29/25mm) per hour possible with Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s high-speed El-Exis machine