At drinktec, which will take place in Munich, Germany from 15 to 19 September, ENGEL will showcase the automated production of closure caps with its all-electric e-cap 380 injection molding machine, combining maximum energy efficiency with outstanding process consistency.

ENGEL all-electric e-cap injection molding machine.

Slit-and-folded closures.

The 38-mm closures produced for United Caps comply with a widely used standard in the beverage industry. The notch of the tamper-evident band, also called the guarantee ring, is formed in the mold and then folded inwards on the underside in a subsequent step.

Production takes place in a 48-cavity mold with a cycle time of four seconds. In the fully automated production cell, which is integrated into the ENGEL CC300 control unit, the caps are conveyed via a cooling conveyor with waterfall sorting to the folding station, where the lower edge of the band is bent inwards, ensuring a secure fit on the bottle neck.

All-electric and efficient

The e-cap machine series impresses with short cycle times, high reproducibility, and low energy consumption. The all-electric drive technology enables dynamic and precise motion sequences, while the rigid toggle lever ensures reliable force transmission.

As standard, the e-cap is equipped with the ENGEL Packaging package. This includes a HIGH clamping unit optimized for extremely short cycle times, a reinforced, elevated moving platen, high-performance machine feet for stable and smooth operation, and powerful high-performance injection units. The iQ motion control digital assistance system automatically optimizes mold movements, thereby reducing cycle times.

New e-flomo one for consistent cooling

In this production cell, ENGEL is presenting the new e-flomo one cooling water distribution system for the first time, developed specifically for applications with high cooling water demand.

The new control system regulates flow rate and temperature difference directly at the main connection of the mold cooling and is fully integrated into the machine control unit. This allows cooling processes to be not only precisely adjusted but also continuously monitored.

e-flomo one makes a significant contribution to reducing scrap by ensuring stable cooling conditions. It enables targeted optimization of the cooling water volume, automatically compensates for seasonal temperature fluctuations and thus reduces water consumption. In combination with the eco-flomo XL, individual circuit monitoring is also possible, ensuring maximum process reliability with minimal operator effort.

Robust plasticizing for demanding processes

Also on feature is the new 2465 injection unit in its premium version, which was specially designed for demanding high-performance applications in thin-wall injection molding. It offers an almost 67% increase in injection speed. A dosing drive with a screw circumferential speed of up to 1 m/s is used. This is ideal for packaging sector, as it enables cycle times to be reduced.

In combination with the new rotary slide shut-off nozzle, the injection unit demonstrates exceptional performance for applications requiring precise control of highly viscous materials at high injection pressure and with short cycle times.

ENGEL’s new rotary slide shut-off nozzle.

Digital support for process consistency

The iQ weight control digital assistance system analyses the injection process in real time and automatically adjusts the switchover point and holding pressure within a few hundredths of a second, which compensates for fluctuations in shot weight without manual intervention. This leads to consistently high part quality and minimal scrap, even with tight tolerance specifications.