PLASTINUM™ GIM success story.

→PLASTINUMTM
PLASTINUM™ GIM
success story.
Manufacture of h
­ igh-quality
injection-moulded components.
”Linde is the perfect fit for our application technology needs.
The PLASTINUM GIM package of technologies from Linde
synergises our complementary expertise and inno­vative capabilities. The resulting increase in quality, productivity and
efficiency means we are even better equipped to meet our
customers’ expectations.“
Dietmar Engel, managing director of Engel Formenbau und Spritzguss GmbH
Engel Formenbau und Spritzguss GmbH
Neulandstraße 21A, 74899 Sinsheim, Germany
Phone +49.7261.65763, Fax +49.7261.657659, [email protected]
Linde AG
Gases Division, Seitnerstrasse 70, 82049 Pullach, Germany
Phone +49.89.7446-0, Fax +49.89.7446-1230, www.linde-gas.com
High pressure nitrogen supply concept with PRESUS N10 at Engel Formenbau und Spritzguss
Liquid
nitrogen
tank
(6 bar)
PRESUS
N10
High-pressure
evaporator
Pressure
control unit
Injection mould­
ing machine(s)
Gaseous
nitrogen
(340 bar)
Fridge handle
Fridge handle
Customer.
Challenge.
Solution.
Based in Sinsheim, Germany, Engel Formenbau
und Spritzguss GmbH (www.engelgmbh.de) is
specialised in the manufacture of high-quality
injection-moulded components for cars and
household appliances, supplying many re­­nowned
brand names in both industries.
Faced with stiff and growing global competition,
Engel Formenbau und Spritzguss has – over the
years – looked for innovative ways to increase
the quality of injection-moulded parts without
pushing up the price. In the production of handles
for appliances, Engel Formenbau und Spritzguss
was keen in particular to shorten cycle times and
reduce the effects of clogging resulting from
oxidised residues.
In 2004, Engel Formenbau und Spritzguss and
Linde decided to explore the possibilities of nitrogen flushing to cool the inner wall of the gas
channel within the plastic part more effectively.
Working in collaboration with Linde, the company
started testing the effects of nitrogen flushing
through the gas cavity in a handle. As the Engel
Formenbau und Spritzguss injection mould was
already equipped with the inlets and outlets
required for the flushing gas, the solution supplied by Linde was easily installed, instantly
accelerating cycle times by 30% or more.
Drawing on decades of experience in the devel­
op­ment and manufacture of high-grade and
com­­­­pli­­­cated parts, the company has always been
an early adopter of process and technology
innovations. This pioneering spirit not only gives
Engel Formenbau und Spritzguss an inno­vation
and quality lead in the competitive plastics sector,
it also gives the company a speed and productivity advantage.
PLASTINUM™ and PRESUS™ are trademarks of The Linde Group.
This figure varies, as efficiency gains can be
limited by assembly line constraints that are not
related to the gas injection process.
Building on the success of the flushing step,
Engel Formenbau und Spritzguss decided to again
team up with Linde to develop and test an
in­erting solution for the gas cavity. The aim was
to further increase productivity by reducing
downtime and scrap rates. Inerting prevents the
build-up of oxidised residues, which can clog
the gas injectors and supply system. Cleaning can
be time-consuming and costly. The inerting
step achieved the desired effect, increasing output by a further 10% on one moulding machine.
Fridge handle
PRESUS unit
Keen to take performance to the next level,
Engel Formenbau und Spritzguss then decided
to replace nitrogen with carbon dioxide (CO₂)
for the gas injection moulding process. With a
higher density than nitrogen, CO₂ enhances
cooling power, thus accelerating cycle times
even more.
ensures that the gaseous nitrogen it supplies is as
pure
as the liquid nitrogen in the tank.
The efficiency of the PLASTINUM GIM package
was further increased through the deployment
of the PRESUS N10 pressure-boosting plant.
As the PRESUS N10 pioneer, Engel Formenbau
und Spritzguss benefited from the cost, space
and efficiency gains of this high-pressure 350bar liquid pump. Not only does PRESUS N10 eliminate the need for additional pressurising equipment, it also lowers the energy bill, consuming
only one eighth of the energy required by a typical gas compressor. Unlike conventional highpressure compressors, this oil-free solution
This customised, harmonised package of EGIM
technologies from Linde – which was developed
and optimised in close collaboration with Engel –
has given Engel Formenbau und Spritzguss
both a technology and competitive lead on the
market.
Benefits at a glance
→→ Higher productivity with up to 30%
reduction in cycle times
→→ Lower costs with less downtime for cleaning
→→ Reduced scrap rates
→→ Improved quality
→→ Greater energy efficiency