Interplas Show brings cheer to UK plastics

Abstract

PurposeTo review manufacturing automation products and technology on show at Interplas 2005, the UK's premier exhibition of equipment for the plastics and rubber industry.Design/methodology/approachSome of the automation products on display at the show are highlighted, particularly the take‐out or beam‐type robots favoured by several of the injection moulding machine (IMM) manufacturers who produce their own version of these robots, including Arburg and Negri Bossi. Descriptions are also given of products from some independent automation equipment manufacturers including ATM, Geiger Handling and Wittmann. Beam‐type and articulated arm robots are described as well as end‐of‐arm tooling including CaviGrip exhibited by ATM, which through cooling within the tool can achieve dramatic savings by reducing the cycle time of IMMs. The contrasting benefits of beam‐type and articulated arm robots tending IMMs are debated. Also revealed is new articulated arm robot hardware and software technology developed by ABB specifically for plastics manufacturing automation. Finally, a brief case study is presented of a robot cell at Characteristix, a UK manufacturer of injection mouldings for the entertainment industry, which has helped it compete against the Far East.FindingsThere are manufacturing automation products available to the plastics industry that can help lift it out of recession. Articulated arm robots can add significant value to injection moulded products.Originality/valuePresents a review of the manufacturing automation technology now available to the plastics manufacturing industry.