By Ron Shinn
Swiss manufacturer WM Thermoforming Machines brought two new machines to K 2025 — the FX780 IM2 steel rule cutting model and the Twist 700 MSvS in-mold trimming model.
It also showed off WM Empower, an integrated system of smart solutions that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to boost machine performance.
The FX780 IM2 is an upgrade to the basic FX780 introduced in late 2023. It now has an integrated AI Vision inspection system for real-time quality control and a redesigned D-Lifter for improved product handling.
It is designed for forming plus cutting, separate cutting and stacking. Stacking options are upward, downward or pick-and-place with a two-axis or three-axis robot.
The FX780 IM2 has a maximum mold size of 30.7 inches by 23.2 inches and can accommodate molds from most competitors. Maximum forming depth is 5.5 inches.
Forming clamping force is 76 tons, and cutting press clamping force is 61 tons.
WM Thermoforming said the heating system has been reworked to use less energy, tool changeover is quick, and the machine is easy to set up and maintain. The design utilizes a symmetric, double-toggle system and four-point parallelism in forming and cutting.
The main applications for the FX780 IM2 are in food and beverage, protein trays, medical and pharmaceutical, horticulture and consumer products.
The all-electric Twist700 MSvS has a tilting lower platen. It features the new MSvS stacker, WM Thermoforming’s latest technology for speed and flexibility.
