PLAST 2023: WITTMANN BATTENFELD's high-tech applications at a glance

Digitization and automation

WITTMANN BATTENFELD will demonstrate its expertise in digitization and automation by manufacturing a spirit level on a SmartPrimus 90/350 with the new B8X control system.

The machine comes with the CMS Lite condition monitoring system from WITTMANN and a special automation cell designed and constructed by WITTMANN BATTENFELD Germany.

With a 1+1-cavity mold supplied by SOLA, Austria, the spirit level will be produced from ABS. As a first production step, the top and bottom parts of the spirit level housing are injection molded. The top part is then deposited and printed at a laser station.

Simultaneously, the bottom part placed on a tray is fitted with vials from SOLA. Next, the top part is pressed onto the bottom part by a pre-set force. The finished parts are then transported to a testing station, where the positioning of the vials is checked by a vision system. After quality inspection, the finished spirit levels are removed and deposited on a conveyor belt by a WX138 robot from WITTMANN.

(The photo shows a spirit level produced with a SmartPrimus 90 featuring automation equipment.)

Liquid silicone processing (LSR) technology

A further machine on display will be an all-electric EcoPower 110/350 LIM with the new B8X control system used to demonstrate WITTMANN BATTENFELD’s expertise in liquid silicone processing.

With this machine, four different closing caps for beverage cans and bottles will be produced from liquid silicone in a single injection-molding process, using a 4-cavity mold from Nexus, Austria. The open design of the EcoPower’s injection unit enables easy integration of the LSR metering unit.

The Nexus X200 metering unit comes with a new Servomix dosing system and is connected with the machine’s B8X control system via Euromap 82.3 OPC-UA integration. In the mold, latest cold-runner technology with FLOWSET needle shut-off regulation is used. The parts are removed by a WITTMANN W918 robot and packaged by a flow wrapping machine.

(The photo shows LSR covers for beverage containers.)

Automation and auxiliaries

In addition to the robots and auxiliary appliances connected to the machines on display, numerous robots and auxiliaries from WITTMANN will also be shown as stand-alone solutions at PLAST 2023.

From its range of automation equipment, WITTMANN BATTENFELD Italia will show a WP80 sprue picker, a W918 robot with R9 control system, a model from the low-cost PRIMUS series, a Primus 48T, and a Sonic 108 high-speed robot.

The Sonic 108 is the latest high-speed parts removal appliance from WITTMANN, developed for clamping forces ranging from 500 to 1,500 kN. The typical cycle time of this robot model is below 4 seconds for gripper weights of up to two kg.

WITTMANN BATTENFELD Italia will also present an extensive portfolio of WITTMANN auxiliaries to PLAST visitors. Some of these exhibits will be a WITTMANN central material conveyor system, plus a Feedmax S3 standalone loader, a Dosimax MX12 volumetric blender and a Gravimax 14 gravimetric blender.

(The photo shows WITTMANN robot W918.)

Automation and auxiliaries

In addition to a wall showing various types of flow controllers, WITTMANN temperature control technology will be represented by the temperature controller models Tempro basic C90, C120 and C140, as well as a Tempro plus D two-circuit appliance.

The Tempro plus D appliances come with a self-explanatory touch display for easy operation. Numerous options are available to configure these appliances for virtually all applications found in plastics processing.

(The photo shows a Tempro plus D temperature controller.)

Automation and auxiliaries

Exhibits from the WITTMANN Group’s granulator range will be one S-Max 1 and one S-Max 2 screenless granulator, and a G-Max 9 granulator. G-Max granulators are energy-efficient and come with a small footprint as well as a sound-insulated cutting chamber.

The S-Max granulators feature toothed rollers with low motor speeds (27 rev/min at 50 Hz) for efficient, low-cost granulating of engineering plastics as well as styrene, acrylic and fiberglass-reinforced materials.

(The photo shows a screenless granulator S-Max 2.)