Fast, precise and well-connected: NETSTAL demonstrates injection molding technology at the highest level at K 2022

Two high-performance production systems will catch the eyes of visitors at the NETSTAL booth in Hall 15 from October 19 - 26. "The guiding theme of our appearance at K is "Global Excellence for Customer Success". This is because processors face the challenge of increasing their productivity and minimizing the cost per part produced in the face of tough competition. The shortest possible cycle times, maximum precision and high machine reliability are key factors. But the efficient use of resources is also relevant, such as the lowest possible energy consumption or thinner wall thicknesses. In these and other areas, we support customers around the world with our new organization," says Renzo Davatz, CEO of NETSTAL and member of the Executive Committee of KraussMaffei.

All-electric ELION from NETSTAL delivers high performance with low energy consumption

Powerful solutions for high-precision applications in medical technology

NETSTAL will produce pipette tips in 64 cavities on an all-electric ELION 1200. The system solution includes a precision mold from Otto Männer and a high-speed handling system from Micro Automation. An electrically conductive compound from Premix, which was specially developed to produce pipette tips for in-vitro diagnostics, will be processed. Customers benefit from the many years of expertise of all system partners and receive a turnkey and highly productive complete system. The clock generator is the energy-saving, medically equipped ELION injection molding machine, which achieves a particularly fast cycle time of around 5.3 seconds for this application.

Pipette tips like these will be produced at the NETSTAL booth

The machine is equipped with the innovative 4-button SMART OPERATION control system. This option enables users to achieve additional productivity gains through automation, standardization and shortening of recurring process steps in shift operation. Equally interesting for medical technology customers is the regular calibration of injection molding machines in accordance with ISO 17025. NETSTAL has been an accredited calibration laboratory since the end of 2021. The new service includes the calibration of the machines at the customer's site. If required, also with comprehensive documentation for use in the audit.

Exhibition premiere of the accelerated ELIOS 4500

The further developed ELIOS 4500 celebrates its trade show premiere. Due to the switch to an all-electric mold closing, the dry cycle could be accelerated by 0.1 seconds. Users benefit not only from increased productivity, but also from optimized energy efficiency: in relation to the dry cycle, the average power consumption of the machine is reduced by 7kW. Another bonus point is provided by the 450mm shorter machine length. At the NETSTAL booth, the ELIOS 4500 will produce thin-walled 150ml IML yogurt cups from a certified renewable PP from SABIC. The material is based on tall oil, a waste product from paper production. It has identical processing properties to conventional polypropylene (PP) and can be returned to the resource cycle. One cup weighs just 6.5 grams. The 12- cavity mold, like the handling system, comes from IML Solutions. The cycle time will be around 5 seconds. The in-mold labels from Verstraete will feature digital watermarks from the Holy Grail 2.0 initiative. Codes invisible to the human eye will be printed on the entire surface of the labels. These contain machine-readable information about the contents, packaging material and origin. Different types of plastic are separated by type and sent for recycling.

aXos control with SMART OPERATION: Guided and safe machine operation allows users additional productivity gains

Perfectly linked via OPC-UA interface

As an OPC-UA Foundation Member, NETSTAL is pushing the development of the interface standard for plastics machinery. OPC-UA enables the standardized, manufacturer-independent, and efficient data exchange of machines, devices and other systems in the industrial environment. At the booth, NETSTAL will present the complete peripheral integration of a Manufacturing Execution System from bfa solutions, temperature control units from HB-Therm and Gammaflux hot runner control units. In addition, NETSTAL will participate in the OPC-UA Showcase of the VDMA. All NETSTAL machines exhibited at K, including those on partner stands, will be integrated into the umati demonstrator. Visitors to the trade fair can use their smartphones to scan QR codes attached to participating machines and systems and thus obtain information on the machine, status, the job in progress and process values in real time in the umati app.