At Fakuma in Friedrichshafen, Germany, from October 17 to October 21, 2023, Arburg will be showcasing its exceptional ability to deliver solutions in plastics processing. “There is only a Plan A” will show how more sustainability, digitalization and automation can be realized in the plastics world. One highlight will be the premiere of the Allrounder 520 H, which is the second machine size with new hybrid machine technology to be presented by Arburg this year. In the “arburgSOLUTIONworld,” which is also new, visitors to the fair will find out how they can save energy and increase efficiency in their operations, as well as compensate for the shortage of skilled workers. Nine exhibits on the company's own stand in Hall A3 and another 10 machines on partner stands will also be giving live demonstrations of exciting applications, processes and trends in injection molding and 3D printing.

“There is only a Plan A”

Arburg's “Plan A” brings together everything the company has to offer on the topics of sustainability,Plan A brings together everything the company has to offer on the topics of sustainability, digitalization, automation and energy efficiency. Source: Arburg digitalization, automation and energy efficiency. At the same time, the machine manufacturer makes it clear that there can be no “Plan B”. Instead, Arburg tackles the issue strategically and operationally, showing solutions that enable resources to be conserved as effectively as possible, carbon footprints to be reduced, and recyclable plastics to be returned to the material cycle (circular economy) using sustainability, efficiency and cutting-edge technology. The 100-year history of the company will be presented in a special exhibition area and is further proof that environmental protection and the responsible use of resources are firmly rooted in Arburg's DNA.

Anniversary gift: New hybrid machine

After presenting the Allrounder 470 H milestone machine in spring 2023 on the celebrations of “100 years of the Hehl family company,” Arburg is now taking the next step toward a hybrid Hidrive series with new machine technology: Starting at Fakuma 2023, sizes 520 and 570 will be available. The machines combine an energy-efficient and precise electric clamping unit with a powerful and dynamic hydraulic injection unit, making them particularly good at saving energy and conserving resources, as well as production-efficient, user-friendly and reliable. The new hybrid Allrounders still boast significantly reduced acquisition and operating costs, plus a smaller carbon footprint, and are available in the Comfort, Premium and Ultimate performance variants. Numerous options allow the machines to be adapted precisely to specific customer requirements.

The exhibit, an Allrounder 520 H Premium, will use a 1+1+1-cavity mold to produce an Allrounder machine base from ABS to a scale of 1:18. The "Moldlife Sense" computer system from Arburg's partner Hack enables the mold to be monitored over its entire life cycle. It can also communicate with the machine and mold via an OPC UA interface.

Following the Allrounder 470 H milestone machine, Arburg is taking the next step toward the hybrid Hidrive series with new machine technology in sizes 520 and 570. Source: Arburg

ArburgSOLUTIONworld

Arburg experts will be providing advice on the meta topics of energy, efficiency, the shortage of skilled workers, and future orientation in its ArburgSOLUTIONworld. Among the features of this new interactive exhibition space built around a 4 m-high LED column will be Arburg's “Action Plan: Energy”, including energy advice, machine updates and consumption measurements to help customers save resources and energy, especially in these economically and politically tense times. The revolutionary LED column is also a structural expression of the importance of this topic for Arburg.

The Arburg host computer system ALS, along with individual processes and customer-specific manufacturing solutions, will be used to demonstrate how high-quality standards can be maintained despite enormous price and cost pressures. Last but not least, trade fair visitors will learn how they can use digital services such as the ArburgXworld customer portal and smart assistance functions from the Gestica control system to overcome the shortage of skilled workers and remain fit for the future.

Reliable processing of recyclates

An Allrounder Golden Electric 470 E with a Yaskawa six-axis robot will be demonstrating how post-consumer recyclate (PCR) can be reliably processed. In a technically demanding process, toy dolphins will be made.

In turn, a vertical Allrounder 375 V machine will overmold inserts with single-variety post-industrial recyclate (PIR) based on a glass-fiber-reinforced PA 66/6 to produce ready-to-use bicycle tools. Tool cases in the Arburg design will be produced using components made from Arburg partner Leonhard Kurz's Recopound material, which is obtained from PIR on the basis of PET films. In addition, an ISCC mass-balanced material from Covestro will be used. The coveted give-away will be produced on a turnkey system based around a hybrid Allrounder 920 H with a clamping force of 5,000 kN.

Prime examples of digitalization and automation

Arburg's stand will feature a wide range of automation solutions — from simple part removal with various linear Multilift robotic systems to complex handling with Yaskawa and Kuka six-axis robots.

The application example of a tire lever will show how digitalization and automation go hand in hand to produce plastic parts efficiently and with 100% traceability. A turnkey system with a vertical Allrounder 375 V and a six-axis robot mounted in a space-saving hanging position will be producing this ready-to-use bicycle tool. The Arburg Turnkey Control Module (ATCM) SCADA system and 'Invisible Tracing' from partner Detagto allow each product to be clearly traced and identified.

Efficient injection molding processes

Energy-efficient two-component injection molding will be demonstrated by an Allrounder More 1600, equipped with two electric injection units, which will produce a container made of thermoplastic (PBT) and liquid silicone (LSR). The LSR dosing unit from Reinhardt Technik is integrated into the Gestica control system via OPC UA and the Euromap interface 82.3.

As an energy-efficient, resource-saving application and alternative to thermoforming, an all-electric Allrounder 720 A Ultimate packaging machine will be producing IML round cups with a wall thickness of only 0.37 mm. This is done by injection compression molding, which also reduces the energy requirement and mold wear.

An IML process designed specifically for medical technology will be presented using labelled centrifuge tubes as an example. In addition to Arburg, partners Kebo, MCC Verstraete, Beck Automation and Intravis are involved in this innovative joint project involving an electric Allrounder 520 A with an 8-cavity mold.

Industrial additive manufacturing

A high-temperature Freeformer 750-3X, Arburg's largest yet compact 3D printer, will be producing air diffusers from Ultem, original aerospace-approved plastic granules. An innovatiQ LiQ printer from for processing liquid silicone will also be presented from the ARBURGadditive division.

Ten additional exhibits on partner stands

Ten additional injection molding exhibits on partner stands will demonstrate the wide range of applications for Arburg machine technology. These will include:

· An Allrounder 1300 T rotary table machine that produces vegetable slicers by overmolding metal blades with ABS (Maschinenfabrik Lauffer, Hall A3, Stand 3008),

· An Allrounder 470 H hybrid machine that uses an 8-cavity mold with a special laser surface to produce closure caps from recycled PP (Barnes Group, Hall A1, Stand 1208) and

· An electric Allrounder 370 A that processes solid silicone into cable ties (ACH, Halle A4, Stand 4307).