12/11/2009 - ARBURG's Spanish subsidiary in Sabadell (Barcelona) invited visitors to a very special open house event on 12. November 2009: the "Automation Allround" day, attended by 56 customers from renowned Spanish companies. The objective of the day was the demonstration of highly-complex production cells with different automation versions. In accordance with the motto "everything from a single source", ARBURG presented itself as project partner and main contractor for complete automation solutions. The guests from the packaging, medical and automotive sectors were given an impressive overview of ARBURG's range of products and services and those of its cooperation partners in the field of automation and handling technology.

The highlight here was a highly-complex automation application with a Kuka six-axis robotic system and a hydraulic ALLROUNDER 375 V vertical machine. The unique feature was the operation of the Kuka robotic control system, on which the proven SELOGICA user interface was implemented. The six-axis robotic system integrated in the production cell performs all the necessary handling tasks, from insertion of the metal parts through removal, to downstream automatic assembly of the components.

With the second highlight, ARBURG demonstrated a cost-effective automation solution on a hydraulic ALLROUNDER 470 C GOLDEN EDITION featuring a MULTILIFT V SELECT robotic system which was responsible for the removal and set-down of CD cases. With this application, the guests were particularly impressed by the opportunity to try out and experience simple programming via the teach-in function themselves.

Regarding the subject of energy-efficient injection moulding, the energy-efficient HIDRIVE machine series was presented in the subsidiary's demonstration room on an ALLROUNDER 570 H with a clamping force of 2,000 kN and a size 800 injection unit. Equipped with a 48-cavity mould, the system produced insulin pens with a part weight of 0.2 grams, in a cycle time of 4.9 seconds.

The live demonstrations were accompanied by six specialist presentations. In the first presentation, the focus was on the Kuka robotic system and the ARBURG MULTILIFT robotic systems with their teach-in function. In another ARBURG presentation, the high-performance hybrid ALLROUNDER H machine was described and a cost comparison between hydraulic and electric machines was drawn up by way of example, in order to quantify savings potential in relation to the higher investment costs.
 
Further presentations were given by ARBURG cooperation partners. Greenbox gave a talk on energy-efficient system solutions for cooling and temperature control of machine and mould. Hasco presented new materials with improved stress-relief properties and performance, as well as new solution options for cooling close to the mould cavities in order to reduce cycle times. In its presentation, ASB addressed the topic of flexible standard automation solutions.

Martin Cayre, Subsidiary Manager at ARBURG S. A., was delighted with the outcome of the event: "The open house offered a good mixture of specialist presentations, discussion rounds and a practical part with trials and live demonstrations. The response to the event was impressive.” The guests emphasised that the mix of presentations and practical demonstrations had been well balanced and informative. The joint presentations of ARBURG and the cooperation partners had covered the entire field of injection moulding and had thus perfectly rounded-off the event.