Plastics Industry Automation
Automation in the Plastics Industry involves robots, cobots, molding cells, part pickers, and end-of-arm-tooling.
ESSENTIAL READING
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What to Look for in High-Speed Automation for Pipette Production
Automation is a must have for molders of pipettes. Make sure your supplier provides assurances of throughput and output, manpower utilization, floorspace consumption and payback period.
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How to Automate High-Precision ‘Micro’ Insert Molding
What does it take to automate a horizontal injection molding cell to handle micro-sized inserts and molded parts? General-purpose top-entry robots and tooling may not be up to the job.
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How to Plan and Implement Automation in an Injection Molding Plant
There is no “one size fits all” solution in automation. When considering what it would look like in your plant, hone in on the staff, products, space, and goals that are specific to you and the automation system that you will be installing.
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AUTOMATION—PART 2 When to Consider Six-Axis Articulated-Arm Robots
Extraordinary versatility suits articulated-arm robots to a wide variety of operations, from loading inserts and unloading parts to decorating, assembly and testing. They also pair well with Cartesian robots. Many mounting options and improved speed and ease of programming add to their flexibility.
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How to Make Your Pneumatics ‘Smart’
Emerson’s Avantics Smart Pneumatics Analyzer digitizes the analog pneumatic environment and monitors and analyzes key operating data.
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Implementing Automation Systems: How to Do It Right
If you’re thinking of putting a complex automation system for high-volume consumables into your plant, consider these tips on making sure both you and your supplier are ready to give it the best chance of success.
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Latest Automation News And Updates
AI Manages Resin Drying Airflows and Throughputs for Energy Savings
NPE2024: Optional feature automates the process of maintaining process-ready resins at perfect temperatures and varied throughputs, while preventing overdrying and realizing significant energy savings.
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Coiling System Features Automated Spool Removal
NPE2024: Designed for wire and cable and tubing, system is equipped with a Yaskawa cobot for automated spool removal.
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Advanced Inspection of Bottles and Labels
NPE2024: Intravis shows new system for full label inspection on round, randomly oriented bottles; and redesigned bottle inspection system with more modular design.
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Pipe Extruder, Die Heads Plus a Cobot Demo
NPE2024: Milacron is debuting updated extruder, control and die head packages. Also demonstrating how cobots can be used to automate pipe production.
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Conveying System is AI-Driven
NPE2024: New system creates and maintains optimal source-to-destination material flows.
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Faster Top-Entry Model Among 19 Robots in Orlando
NPE2024: Sepro Group will introduce the newest S5-25 Speed robot, promising 63% faster acceleration, as one of 19 robots on display at its booth and partner booths at the show.
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Featured Posts
Processing Megatrends Drive New Product Developments at NPE2024
It’s all about sustainability and the circular economy, and it will be on display in Orlando across all the major processes. But there will be plenty to see in automation, AI and machine learning as well.
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Real-Time Production Monitoring as Automation
As an injection molder, Windmill Plastics sought an economical production monitoring system that could help it keep tabs on its shop floor. It’s now selling the “very focused” digital supervisor it created, automating many formerly manual tasks.
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Cobot Creates 'Cell Manufacturing Dream' for Thermoformer
Kal Plastics deploys Universal Robot trimming cobot for a fraction of the cost and lead time of a CNC machine, cuts trimming time nearly in half and reduces late shipments to under 1% — all while improving employee safety and growth opportunities.
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Choosing the Right Projects to Automate
What are the strategies and upfront work that go into identifying production problems that could benefit from an automation solution?
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Ensuring Repeatability: The Key to Effective Injection Molding Automation
One of automation’s key promises is repeatability: the same movement to the same location, time and time again. But to achieve that, all elements involved — robot, machine, EOAT, mold — must be in and stay in alignment.
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System Offers 'Lights Out' Mold-Channel Cleaning & Diagnostics
New system automatically cleans mold-cooling lines—including conformal channels—removing rust and calcium, among other deposits, while simultaneously testing for leaks, measuring flow rate and applying rust inhibitor.
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FAQ: Automation
How to add automation to injection molding?
There is no “one size fits all” solution in automation. When considering what it would look like in your plant, hone in on the staff, products, space, and goals that are specific to you and the automation system that you will be installing.
Automation Supplier Categories
- Rebuilt Screws or Barrels
- Other Testing/Analysis Equipment
- Automation/Systems Integration
- Speed, Drive Controls
- Recording Instruments
- Troubleshooting, Problem Solving Systems
- Technical and Trade Associations
- Machining, Routing Software
- Materials Formulating Systems
- SPC, SQC Systems
- Product & Tool Design, Analysis Software (CAD/CAM/CAE)
- Assembly Robots and EOAT
- Flow Monitoring/Control Devices (for Liquids)
- Training Programs in Plastics
- Maintenance Management Systems
- Timers
- Rebuilt Motors and Drives
- ISO 9000 Software
- Job Quoting, Cost Estimating and Accounting Systems
- Dewpoint Monitors/Moisture Analyzers
- Parison Programmers
- Spray Painting Robots and EOAT
- Scheduling, MRP, Production and Inventory Management Systems
- Pressure Controllers, Monitors
- Temperature Controllers, Monitors
- Computer and Automation Testing Auxiliaries
- Color Matching/Formulating Systems
- Temperature Pyrometers, Sensors, Thermocouples
- Design of Experiments (DOE) Software
- Motion or Position Controls
- Part or Sprue Removal Robots and EOAT
- Screw Design/Analysis Software
- Sequence Logic Controls
- Level Sensors and Controls
- Used Molds
- Closed-loop Process Control Systems
- Used Machinery
- Machine Monitoring/Alarm Systems
- Pressure Sensors, Transducers
- General Purpose Robots and EOAT
