During the six years between NPE trade shows, York, Pa.-based Engel North America expanded its operations with a new automation center, added an apprentice program and increased its workforce by more than 50 to 260 employees in the United States and Canada.
At Booth W3301 during NPE2024, the injection molding machine builder will show attendees how to empower their workforces, improve production efficiency and advance sustainable initiatives.
The spotlight will include a new slim version of Engel's all-electric e-mac brand press and ways to boost operations through sustainable practices, digitalization for smart factories and training programs, particularly for the automotive, teletronics, technical molding, packaging and medical markets.
The machine builder can give plastics processors a competitive edge, according to Engel North America President Vanessa Malena.
"Engel is set to showcase state-of-the-art machines, automation solutions, and the latest digital products designed to support our customers' production needs," Malena said in a news release. "Our team of experts will be available to discuss sustainability, address circular economy concerns, and dive into energy-efficiency topics."
The machine builder also will promote its certified training programs and digital and automation products to address the skilled labor shortage. The training courses cover all aspects of equipment operation and equipping molders with the necessary skills.
The digital products "alleviate the workforce's workload" when it comes to part design, mold sampling, production, maintenance and service support, the release says.
Processors then can improve productivity and quality as the machines handle more tasks.
For automation, the machine builder designs and manufactures components to automate injection molding cells with linear and articulated robots, peripheral and conveyor technology, and grippers and safety guards.
But it's the e-mac slim edition that will be the highlight of the Engel exhibit. The new compact all-electric press saves up to 16 percent in overall machine width, the release says.
At NPE2024, the e-mac 1565/310 will produce a technical bottle tray from regrind on a single cavity mold (Haidlmair in Nussbach, Austria). The release says a recycling package consisting of a highly abrasion and corrosion-resistant screw and a melt filter will ensure consistent process and part quality.
The machine builder also will exhibit:
• Engel e-speed 610/90 injection molding machine designed for high-speed and high-performance production of packaging.
• Engel victory 330/85 small hydraulic machine with a clamping force of 800 kN offers quick and easy mold changes. The tie-bar-less series enables production of a variety of parts, providing more space for tools and easy access.
• E-motion 440H/160TWP, a combi M compact injection molding machine with a horizontal rotary table to boost shop floor productivity. Two robots will work in parallel to manufacture diagnostic cartridges Engel officals say the exhibit is an excellent example of a customized, fully integrated production cell designed for productivity, ease of operation and minimal space requirements.
• E-motion 50/30 TL showing the perfect interaction of a 32-cavity mold, icro injection unit and tie-barless machine producing silicone valve weighing just 0.001 grams.
• Duo 5160/770 WP tech US demonstrating production and decoration of an automotive front panel with surface protection done with one machine in one cycle using two Engel application technologies called foilmelt and clearmelt.
• T-win 750/7800 by Wintec, which is part of the Engel Group, producing garage floor tiles molded from 100 percent recycled ocean waste — fishing ropes from Patagonia — for an integrated Engel viper 40 linear robot to remove.