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    1. Injection Molding

    Careful maintenance can pay off, Wittmann Battenfeld says

    Sept. 25, 2020
    Wittmann Battenfeld Inc.
    This 1956 press now is retired, but, according to Wittmann Battenfeld and its previous owner, it's still in good condition.
    This 1956 press now is retired, but, according to Wittmann Battenfeld and its previous owner, it's still in good condition.

    By Karen Hanna

    The injection molding machine hailed from a different era — the Eisenhower administration. But, through generations and presidencies, new products and new employees, it still worked, a testament to the diligence and love of its owners.  

    Now, it’s part of Wittmann Battenfeld lore. 

    Wittmann Battenfeld Inc.
    Meticulous maintenance can help users get the most out of their machines. The press honored by this plaque was built in 1956 and was in operation until 2018.
    Meticulous maintenance can help users get the most out of their machines. The press honored by this plaque was built in 1956 and was in operation until 2018.
    “We recently received a machine that was taken out of service in 2018,” said David Sharp, operations manager for the company. It was a 1956 Battenfeld all-electric BSM 100/205. “We cleaned it up and put it on display. I believe we could have had it running still, but the safety standards just aren’t up to modern requirements."

    Maintenance can mean the difference between an injection molding machine that dies prematurely, and one that cranks out parts over decades. For its next issue, Plastics Machinery Magazine is gathering tips and tricks for keeping machines running. 

    Sharp said he has seen the gamut — from machines forced into early death to others that have been babied for years. “The realm of machine owners is similar in nature to that of automobile owners. Some owners are very good at keeping up to date on the maintenance while others are terrible at it,” he said.  

    To keep machines running, Sharp offered some advice: Follow the maintenance schedule prescribed by the manual, heed machine notifications, keep components clean, address leaks immediately. The company also provides its Condition Monitoring System, which is similar to the maintenance alerts programmed into a car.  

    Watch for comprehensive stories on making your machinery last in the November issue and on www.plasticsmachinerymagazine.com. 

    Contact:  

    Wittmann Battenfeld Inc., Torrington, Conn., 860-496-9603, www.wittmann-group.com  

    Karen Hanna, copy editor

    [email protected]

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