Plastics Technology - Dedicated to improving Plastics Processing.
Issue link: http://pty.epubxp.com/i/839458
Injection Molding Clamp- Force Booster Aims to Increase Press Capacity After five years of R&D; and several million test parts, Ironjaw LDA, Lisbon, Portugal (ironjaw.tech), is ready to introduce what it calls the first-ever clamp-force "booster" system for injec- tion presses. Ironjaw says the tech- nology can enable 30% to 60% more clamp force. The actual device attaches to the tool along its parting line, activating when the mold closes and then unclamping prior to mold open, powered by the machine's hydraulic system. It reportedly can be adapted to all types of molds and presses, and imposes no cycle-time penalty. Initially four sizes are available, boosting injection molding machine clamp force by 25, 50, 125, and 200 tons. Ironjaw believes a return on investment is possible within six months. That ROI is made possible by enabling use of a smaller press, reducing or eliminating flash, and possibly using less expensive resins, including recycled material. Ironjaw says that major equip- ment manufacturers in Europe and the U.S. will be testing the booster device over the next few months. Ironjaw will maintain a demonstration center in North America at RocTool in Charlotte, N.C., and plans to announce demonstra- tion centers in Europe and Asia. At pres- ent, all sales and marketing are based in Portugal, but the company is maintain- ing inventory in the U.S. and plans to recruit a local team in 2018. 980-938-0586 • roctool.com Chinaplas Breaks Records in 2017, Seeks to Be World's Biggest Plastics Fair in 2018 With a change of venue in 2018, Chinaplas organizer Adsale Exhibition Services thinks the annual show could eclipse the triennial K show as the world's largest plastics event, in terms of floor space. With 2.69 million ft 2 of exhibit space and 3465 exhibitors, Chinaplas 2017 in May occupied 4% more floor space than the last event in Guangzhou in 2015. The show was expected to attract 140,000 visitors over its four days, with 30% of those coming from overseas. More than 160 countries and regions were represented. But instead of 140,000 visitors, more than 155,000 attended the fair, topping the record-setting total in Shanghai in 2016 by nearly 5% and eclipsing the previ- ous Guangzhou attendance figure by more than 20%, according to the China Plastics & Rubber Journal, published by Adsale. Of this year's show visitors, 40,048, or nearly 26%, came from overseas. In 2018 (April 24-27), Chinaplas will return to Shanghai but will move from its previous venue to the new National Exhibition and Convention Center, less than 2 km from the Hongqiao Transportation Hub, which includes Hongqiao Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station. In 2016 in Shanghai, Chinaplas drew 3323 exhibitors and covered more than 2.58 million ft 2 . To help meet demand, there were an additional 430,300 ft 2 of exhibitors in tents outside the halls, while a further 322,750 ft 2 of booths were placed on a waiting list. The new convention center can support 3.44 million ft 2 of exhibit space. "That means in 2018, Chinaplas becomes the largest plas- tics fair in the world in terms of area," said Stanley Chu, Adsale founder and chairman. He added that Adsale "feels honored to work with Messe Düsseldorf (organizer of the K fair) to make it the largest plastics fair in the world." K 2016 drew 230,000 trade visitors from over 160 countries over eight days. Its net exhibition area was 1.87 million ft 2 . Sepro Expands Robot Operations in U.S. & France Sepro of France announced a three-phase, $12.3 million expansion plan. The robot maker will expand its French headquarters by 54% and build a new training facility nearby. Both projects are due for completion by summer 2018. In the U.S., Sepro America, Warrendale, Pa., will more than double its assembly area—from 9700 ft 2 to 21,500 ft 2 —in the fourth quarter of this year to allow assembly of large robots for use with injection presses of 800 tons or more. 412-459-0450 • sepro-america.com 8 JULY 2017 Plastics Technology PTonline.com T E C H N O L O G Y A N D I N D U S T R Y N E W S St ar t ing Up