Engel builds 12,000-ton injection molding machine
By Karen Hanna
A new Engel injection molding machine about as long as a tennis court is pushing the boundaries of how big presses can get.
Calling it the world’s largest IMM, Engel announced Feb. 18 the introduction of the two-platen Duo 12000 US, which has more than 12,000 tons of clamping force and more than 18 miles of cables. It is designed for parts with an area of more than 26 square feet — bigger than a car door panel.
Engel said the machine allows for the production of parts that otherwise would be composed of multiple pieces and assembled following molding, reducing material consumption, simplifying logistics and reducing production time and costs. The Duo 12000 also allows manufacturers to make parts from plastics that traditionally have been made from other materials, such as concrete or metal.
Parts made by the gigamolding machine could include transport containers, large-volume infiltration boxes for rainwater management, water tanks and components of new vehicles, including battery housings, underbody panels or hybrid inner door structures.
Engel’s big announcement comes at a time when it and other OEMs have been pushing progressively more-mammoth machines. They include Haitian International’s 8,800-ton servo-hydraulic JU88000 and Milacron's 8,000-ton C8000 IMMs. It’s not even the first time Engel’s made a big splash in the big-molding arena: In 2023, Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) Inc. installed a pair of Engel 8,200-tonners at one of its subsidiaries, Infiltrator Water Technologies in Winchester, Ky.
The newest IMM has two injection units operating in parallel. With screw diameters of up to 210mm, they enable a shot volume of up to 65,000 cm³ — more than 17 gallons — and homogeneous filling of large projected areas.
An Engel customer recently commissioned a tailor-made Duo 12000 US at its plant. That machine has eight tie bars, though IMMs of the same size can also be produced with four tie bars.
According to the company, even its biggest machines are capable of producing parts with precision, within an accuracy of a few hundredths of a millimeter — about the thickness of a sheet of paper. With this capability, manufacturers can lightweight even the biggest parts.
The company said it has designed the new IMM is designed for cost- and energy-efficiency.
Engel can manufacture its biggest machines in Austria, as well as regionally in Asia. At its technical center in St. Valentin, Austria, customers can perform R&D and work out how factors such as shrinkage will affect their processes. Machinery at the technical center includes the Duo 550 Combi M, with more than 6,000 tons of clamping force.
The company said the design concept of the Duo series enables efficient production of tailor-made solutions for large parts, and that even larger systems are possible if consumers require them.
Contact:
Engel Machinery Inc., York, Pa., 717-764-6818, www.engelglobal.com
Vital Statistics
|
Machine |
Duo 12000 US |
|
Clamping force |
12,000 tons |
|
Maximum screw diameter |
210mm |
|
Shot volume |
65,000 cm3 |
|
Number of tie bars |
Option of four or eight |
|
Length of machine |
78.7 feet |
|
Height of machine |
27.6 feet |
|
Weight of machine |
607 tons |
|
Maximum mold weight |
187 tons |
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About the Author
Karen Hanna
Senior Staff Reporter
Senior Staff Reporter Karen Hanna covers injection molding, molds and tooling, processors, workforce and other topics, and writes features including In Other Words and Problem Solved for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. She has more than 15 years of experience in daily and magazine journalism.