ENGEL presents the world's largest technical center injection molding machine | Plastics News

Oct 22, 2024

ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH has expanded its technical center in St. Valentin, Austria, with one of the largest injection molding machines from its standard portfolio: the duo 5500 combi M. With a clamping force of 55,000 kN, this machine is the largest of its kind in any technical center worldwide, with impressive dimensions of 32 meters in length, 13 meters in width, 6.8 meters in height, and a weight of 545 tons.

With this machine, ENGEL aims to enable technologies and components in entirely new dimensions together with its customers and partners. The extra-large mold space accommodates molds weighing up to 150 tons, with possible shot weights of up to 42 kg.

This state-of-the-art machine was developed to meet the demands of the automotive industry and technical injection molding and is now available for customer trials.

The automotive industry uses more and more larger plastic parts to reduce vehicle weight, improve fuel efficiency, and lower production costs. Plastics offer design flexibility, enhance corrosion resistance, and contribute to the longevity and safety of vehicles. They also allow for the integration of functional elements and reduce the number of individual parts needed. ENGEL's new technical center machine supports this trend by enabling the production of larger plastic components.

ENGEL duo 5500 combi M – high performance for a wide range of applications

Until now, large plastic parts have often been manufactured using various processes other than injection molding, which have significant limitations. An injection molding machine as large as the duo 5500 combi M in a technical center creates extensive possibilities for part and technology development and sampling. This offering reinforces ENGEL's role as an enabler of new technologies, allowing customers and partners to actively pursue developments in new dimensions and expand injection molding capabilities.

The size of the machine is impressive, but also the wide range of material combinations and technologies:

The new ENGEL technical center machine covers all applications for the automotive industry and technical injection molding.

State-of-the-art control technology and digital assistance systems

The duo 5500 combi M represents the latest technology in injection molding. It features two movable (combined and individually operable) horizontal injection units and a combi M injection unit. It is also equipped with two six-axis ENGEL easix articulated robots for flexible and efficient automation.

For PUR applications, two Cannon systems are available, one for small-volume applications and one for high-volume applications. Additionally, a dosing unit allows for coloring the polyurethanes to create unique designs.

All digital assistance systems from ENGEL are integrated into the machine control, enabling energy-saving, sustainable, and efficient production while optimizing processes.

Faster tool changes thanks to extended tie bar distances

No other manufacturer has built as many injection molding machines of this size. This extensive experience equips ENGEL with unparalleled expertise that directly benefits its customers. By proactively installing a machine of this magnitude, ENGEL emphasizes its commitment to technological leadership, innovation, sustainability, and customer focus, all in line with their motto "be the first."

Flexible automation with six-axis articulated robots

With the introduction of the duo 5500 combi M, ENGEL's technical center is living up to its role as a leading hub for testing new technologies and collaborating closely with the industry to promote new injection molding possibilities. The machine allows for the testing and development of existing and new customer projects under real conditions and on neutral ground. This includes tool and material tests as well as the development of new manufacturing technologies.

Manufacturers of large, complex plastic parts and toolmakers can now test feasibility and implementation at an early project stage. This significantly shortens the go-to-market time and avoids costly subsequent errors by identifying and eliminating sources of error early on.

Watch an injection molding machine from the duo series in action! Please note: The machine shown in this video is a duo 4000, the technical center machine is a duo 5500.

Contact ENGEL if you are interested in trials with this machine: [email protected]

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