Successful Chinaplas 2024

ARBURG is taking a new approach with its local-to-local activities: Whereas ALLROUNDERs were previously built exclusively at the German headquarters in Lossburg, value-added stages are now being internationalised. ARBURG has systematically tailored the ALLROUNDER GOLDEN ELECTRIC EVO, which is available in sizes 370, 470, 520 and 570, to the Asian market. The production of all components and parts requiring expertise and key technologies continues to take place in Germany. Assembly is carried out at the ARBURG Technology Factory in Pinghu, where the range of automation and turnkey solutions is also being continuously expanded in cooperation with local partners. An important point to note here is that "Made by ARBURG" remains "Made by ARBURG"! The new electric entry-level machine is characterised by the high precision of its injection units, short cycle times, faster dry cycle times and a reduction in the energy requirement of up to 50 per cent. At Chinaplas 2024, the exhibit produced precise LSR components for use in cars. A FLEXLIFT linear robotic system was tasked with handling the parts.

"arburgSOLUTIONworld", an exhibition area centred around a four-metre-high LED column, also met with great interest. This is where ARBURG experts offered individual advice on important topics including digitalisation, automation, moulds, sustainability and service. New features for the "arburgXworld" customer portal were also presented, including "ask ARBURG", an AI-supported premium app. The app incorporates the company's extensive injection moulding expertise and can answer specific questions about machines and processes as well as identify and rectify the causes of faults – with no need for an on-site service.

With a total of four machine exhibits at Chinaplas 2024, ARBURG presented exciting examples of applications in the key areas of medicine and mobility, which feature prominently in the dynamic Asian market. ARBURG's ability to also implement very successful turnkey systems in China and Asia in collaboration with local partners was demonstrated by a production cell built around an ALLROUNDER 1600 T vertical rotary table machine, which overmoulded metal inserts with glass fibre-reinforced PBT to form complex fluid distributors. Visitors from the medical technology sector familiarised themselves with the advantages of the hybrid ALLROUNDER 470 H. The production cell made two different adapters for medical technology on a fully automatic basis, including camera inspection and sample part storage. A FLEXLIFT 10+2 linear robotic system was used for handling.

A freeformer 300-3X demonstrated how associated EOAT can be additively manufactured quickly and cost effectively. In the ARBURG Plastic Freeforming (APF) process, this was used to 3D print grippers in a multi-material combination. In general, freeformers are suitable for the 3D printing of functional components, EOAT and operating equipment based on original plastic granules – even from very soft materials and in hard-soft combinations.