Full integration reduces costs

Full integration reduces costs

ENGEL AUSTRIA has expanded its collaboration with Trexel (Wilmington/USA) and fully integrated the MuCell units into the injection molding machines of the ENGEL victory and ENGEL e-victory series. This has enabled the two partners to significantly improve the price/performance ratio of foam injection molding system solutions compared to conventional combined systems.

The complete integration includes both hardware and software. The compact control cabinet of the MuCell foam unit is completely concealed within the integrated ENGEL victoryMuCell system in the protective housing below the injection unit, occupying no additional space. The foaming process is embedded into the CC 200 control system of the ENGEL injection molding machine and can be monitored and controlled via the machine's display. This provides the ENGEL victoryMuCell solution with particularly high user comfort. A new feature is the nitrogen consumption calculator, which allows for planning the bottle change in advance. Since the MuCell unit does not require its own visualization, system costs are also reduced through integration.

Large tools on small machines

The ENGEL victory and ENGEL e-victory machines are ideally suited for MuCell processes due to their toggle-less clamping unit. Foam applications typically require only low clamping forces, yet the tools can be relatively large. Since the tool mounting plates on toggle-less injection molding machines can be fully utilized up to the edge, large tools can be accommodated on comparatively small machines, keeping investment and operating costs low. Thus, the ENGEL victoryMuCell integration supports the trend toward downsizing manufacturing equipment. In many MuCell applications, for example, a victory machine with 500 tons of clamping force can replace a larger ENGEL duo machine with 700 tons, as the usable clamping area of both machines is identical. This makes ENGEL victoryMuCell one of the most cost-effective solutions for foam injection molding on the market.

Service from a single source

ENGEL and Trexel have developed the integrated solution through an exclusive partnership. Sales and service are exclusively handled worldwide by ENGEL, ensuring high efficiency in project execution and communication with suppliers. Around the globe, numerous ENGEL victoryMuCell systems are available at ENGEL technical centers for customer trials, and training sessions are offered. Additionally, ENGEL is expanding its global spare parts centers to include ENGEL victoryMuCell packages. "The integrated solutions give additional momentum to the use of MuCell systems," says Michael Fischer, Sales Manager Technologies at ENGEL AUSTRIA.

Two main factors drive the growth of MuCell technology: the increasing trend toward lightweight construction and the reduced warpage of products manufactured using MuCell.