of high-volume food packaging know all too well that manufacturing efficiency is essential for a healthy bottom line. So when a leading supplier of thin-wall dairy and ice cream packs came to expand its production of plastic tubs, productivity and reliability came under intense scrutiny.Now, with the successful installation of a 250T El-Exis SP hybrid injection moulding machine from Sumitomo (SHI) Demag, this customer enjoys increased output whilst minimising operating costs.
Increased demand for larger items such as lidded 2 and 4 litre ice cream tubs meant that investment in additional injection moulding equipment was vital, but maximum production efficiency was essential. The new equipment needed to turn out precisely moulded components at high speeds, yet be flexible enough to cope with fast set-up of diverse product ranges.
In the El-Exis SP hybrid – electric/hydraulic – range, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has brought together innovative mechanical and software technologies to deliver significant user advantages. Movements are extremely fast, typically achieving 3-5% reductions in cycle times compared to competitors’ equipment. The El-Exis SP range comprises presses of 150-750 tonne clamping force, covering all mainstream packaging applications.
Integrated electric and servo-hydraulic drives deliver energy-efficient production of high-precision mouldings, and quiet, low-maintenance operation.
The customer decided on the 250T El-Exis SP machine after a rigorous tender process. Specialists from Sumitomo (SHI) Demag carried out a thorough analysis of the application, identifying the critical requirements to achieve optimum cycle times, and liaised with the customer’s toolmakers to ensure trouble-free commissioning and start-up.
The versatility of the El-Exis SP machine means that it can produce a range of components, from a single large container up to 96 drinks caps per cycle, making it ideal for any packaging application.
Thorough training was provided so that the customer’s operatives could immediately achieve the required production rates, and minimise changeover times between production runs.
It’s this tailored approach and attention to detail that customers value, comments Dave Raine, Technical Sales Manager for Sumitomo (SHI) Demag:
‘When you’re contracted to provide equipment to produce containers and closures by the million, it’s essential that you look at the total cost of production and ownership. Manufacturers are increasingly looking to their equipment suppliers to provide turnkey solutions, with features such as in-mould labelling, robotic product handling, advice with tooling, and all the know-how and support that underpins efficient manufacturing.
With the recent appointment of a dedicated packaging expert as Project Manager and Co-ordinator for this type of project, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is uniquely placed to provide the customised, holistic service that successful packaging moulders are demanding”.
