Plastic and rubber machinery

Plastic injection moulding tools (dies) are highly complex technical units today: depending on the end product, different plastic components may be used, or several components may be integrated into the final product. To ensure consistently high-quality manufacturing processes, these tools are equipped with various types of sensors as well as heating and cooling systems.

The interfaces for these injection moulding tools must meet a wide range of requirements:

• they must be scalable and flexibly adaptable,

• capable of transmitting a large number of signals and media,

• able to function reliably over the long term under extreme conditions, such as high temperatures and mechanical stress.

In the field of plastics processing, such as injection moulding or extrusion, workspaces are often limited. Linear robots offer several advantages over conventional articulated arm robots: they are more cost-effective, their movements are easier to optimise, and they are particularly well-suited for applications requiring long, straight travel paths and high dynamics. Since these processes typically require simple and repeatable movements, linear systems are ideal.

The interfaces for linear robots are exposed to very high dynamic loads. At the same time, they often need to be especially compact and provide a high degree of compatibility with various machine interfaces, such as those specified by the EUROMAP semi-standard requirements.

A centralised or decentralised design for the electrical equipment and automation components of any machine can be chosen depending on the overall concept, size, and degree of automation.

In the plastics processing industry, the control cabinet interfaces are even more critical because:

• Machines and production lines integrate subsystems (e.g., temperature control, material handling, robotics) from various manufacturers.

• Reliable and standardised interfaces (power interfaces, fieldbus systems, and Ethernet-based protocols) are essential for seamless communication and integration.

• Efficient and robust connectivity ensures that all subsystems work together harmoniously, enabling optimal process control, quality, and productivity.

A centralised or decentralised design for plastics and rubber processing equipment can be selected based on the overall concept, size, capacity, and degree of automation of the entire production plant. The choice also depends on the number and types of granulates and materials used.

Accordingly, the drying units must be designed to meet these specific requirements. Modern drying units are complex devices that not only ensure the optimal preparation of plastic raw materials, but also efficiently manage the mixing, dosing, and transport of materials to the unit and onward to the plastic processing machine.

Temperature and mold control units are one of the three most critical pillars in rubber and plastic (R&P) processing, alongside the machine and the injection mold or tool. These units play a vital role in managing complex manufacturing processes, especially those involving high-cavity and specialized molds.

With integrated control of temperature, servo, and valve gate sequencing within a single unit, they ensure precise plastic injection molding. User-friendly HMIs with touchscreens provide intuitive programming and easy parameter adjustments.

By combining advanced control capabilities with ease of use, temperature control units maximize consistency, quality, and efficiency in modern manufacturing environments.