ENGEL builds the world-largest injection molding machine duo 12000 US, expanding the possibilities for the industrial production of large-format injection-molded parts in a single production step.

As the world’s largest injection molding machine, the ENGEL duo 12000 US enables the production of large-format injection-molded parts, with reduced assembly effort and improved CO₂ footprint.

The large mold space enables flexible automation and the efficient production of complex large-scale components in integrated production processes.

The two-platen injection molding machine enables the reduction of part costs for large-area components. At the same time, manufacturers can implement innovative product concepts and reduce assembly effort.

This creates new design freedoms and additional opportunities to replace traditional materials such as metal or concrete with plastics, opening possibilities for competitive and more sustainable solutions in mobility, infrastructure and industry.

Largest injection molding machine commissioned at customer’s site

The two-platen machine with a clamping force of 110,000 kN was specifically developed for parts with projected areas of more than 2.5 m² and was recently commissioned at the customer’s site.

It enables the cost-efficient production of very large-format components in an integrated production process. Through functional integration, a reduced number of parts and lower assembly effort, new degrees of freedom arise in design, lightweight construction and product design.

To enable large shot weights for large-area components, the system is equipped with two injection units operating in parallel. With screw diameters of up to 210 mm, they enable a shot volume of up to 65,000 cm³ and homogeneous filling of large projected areas.

The design with eight tie bars was selected together with the customer as the most suitable solution for its specific requirements. Machines of this size are also possible with four tie bars.

The dimensions of the system illustrate the technical challenge: with a length of around 24 meters and a height of approximately 8.4 meters, it is among the largest industrial production systems in injection molding worldwide. The total weight is 551 tons, the maximum mold weight 170 tons. In total, around 30 kilometers of cables were installed. The total installed power is approximately 2.4 MW with a total current of 2,900 A. Despite these dimensions, the machine remains compact thanks to the modular design principle of the duo series, thereby saving floor space.

More large machines

In addition to the standard sizes of the duo series, several systems with clamping forces of 74,400 kN have already been successfully installed in the market.

A specially developed machine concept enables systems of this scale to be designed and manufactured efficiently. Thanks to global production structures, such machines can, if required, be manufactured not only in the large machine plant in Austria but also regionally in Asia.

Despite their dimensions, the large machines are characterized by exceptional precision. Through options such as injection compression molding, the component dimensions can be defined with an accuracy of a few hundredths of a millimeter, a level of precision comparable to the thickness of a sheet of paper.

This sensitivity, in combination with enormous force, opens up new possibilities in precision lightweight construction and in the functional integration of large-format components.

New possibilities in technical injection molding

Large machines also open up new application potential in the field of technical injection molding. ENGEL has already successfully established machines with clamping forces of around 11,000 tons in the market, among others for logistics and infrastructure products.

These include transport containers for the disposal of e-mobility batteries, large-volume infiltration boxes for rainwater management as well as water tanks with mold areas of nearly six square meters and shot weights of up to 109 kg. Especially for large water tanks, plastics offer clear advantages over concrete: the components are easier to transport and install, require less infrastructure and respond more flexibly to ground movements.

With the help of ENGEL large machines, these products can also be manufactured cost-effectively and in new dimensions.