The K-show, held in Dusseldorf every three years, is one of the world’s most important plastics exhibitions.   For this reason, Negri Bossi will once again be demonstrating their latest technology and innovation at the show.

Based in HALL 15, our 480 square metre stand will be displaying four machines, the focal point being the all-new NOVA s600T machine, a new model which extends and completes this exciting range of machines. In addition to this, we are also showing two electric machines from the NOVA eT range, as well as a 330 tonnes servo-hydraulic machine.

The addition of the NOVA s600T now provides a range of NOVA sT machines from 600 to 1300 tonnes. This new and innovative product has a unique toggle system that retains all the benefits of a traditional toggle system, whilst generating a footprint close to that of a two-platen solution. 

The machines come with the latest generation servo-hydraulic system for maximum performance and energy-saving, as well as the patented and cutting edge Motus controller, with its revolutionary virtual object system for axis movement.

This machine will be making a folding crate, with part extraction and full assembly via a SYTRAMA robot and downstream automation.

Two NOVA eT All-Electric machines will complete the collection of NOVA series machines on display. The NOVA eT range is aimed at the Packaging, Closure, Medical and Optical moulding sectors, being precise, efficient and fast.

The NOVA eT range runs from 50 to 350 tonnes and features the smart flex-2 clamp units that are specifically designed for electric actuation and reduced dry-cycle times. The whole range features generous tie bar spacing, high injection speeds and the Tactum multi-touch controller, with its scroll, zoom and swipe capability.

A NOVA e130T, fitted with a 40 mm barrier screw, will run a packaging mould manufactured by MOLMASA  (Barcelona, Spain).  This will demonstrate a new and patented method for producing high-quality plastic blown bottles directly from the injection moulding machine.  The solution offers a compact and reliable moulding system based on a horizontal IMM, coupled with simple and fast start-up, high quality of the final product and a low piece price.

The second NOVA eT is a 220-tonne model producing drinking glasses using a  four-impression mould made by FB Moulds. Parts will be extracted via a side entry SYTRAMA Robot and packaged using a downstream bagging line. This is an ideal application for the NOVA eT range, as it benefits from the machine’s low energy consumption and high performance.

Broom head production cell. The fourth machine will be a 330-ton servo-hydraulic model producing a broom (brush) head using Negri Bossi’s FMC technology. FMC is a technique of moulding with gas (nitrogen in microcellular form) that reduces the weight of the product and eliminates aesthetic defects.  Downstream automation from Sytrama also incorporates a brush making machine (Borghi).

The use of WPC (wood/plastic compound) raw material in addition to the FMC system guarantees an ecological solution for plastic production. Benefiting from Negri Bossi’s extensive experience in gas injection, the FMC system is the optimum solution for weight reduction and can be used with both thermoplastics and liquid silicon rubber (LSR). 

SYTRAMA automation.  All machines on the stand benefit from automation supplied by Sytrama, Negri Bossi’s sister company.  In addition, there is a unique demonstration of a robot playing noughts and crosses.

Industry 4.0  The Negri Bossi AMICO 4.0. system, which is dedicated to industry 4.0., will be shown in a display area demonstrating the latest developments achieved through the collaboration with our partner Open Plast.  Open Plast , the Italian platform dedicated to the Plastic & Rubber sector, facilitates a complete industry 4.0 chain from the machines to the customers ERP system.

Come and see what NEGRI BOSSI, a market leader for more than 70 years, can do for you and your business.  You will find us in Hall15, stand 22.

 Less than six months after the delivery of their first NOVA eT All-Electric machine, County Durham based IVM Ltd has taken delivery of a 280-tonne model.  The machine was purchased to produce an existing under-seat automotive component, with a visible and textured front face.

The tool previously ran on a modern 270-tonne hydraulic machine achieving a 46 second cycle time. There were serious quality issues relating to gas being trapped within the tools cavity.  Despite the addition of gas vents, surface defects resulting from burning were at an unacceptable level.  IVM’s Managing Director, Ian Davidson commented,

“People are surprised when we tell them that we chose All-Electric technology primarily to increase productivity and improve the quality of an existing component.  We all know that these machines use less energy, are cleaner, quieter and have a much smaller cooling requirement than hydraulic models.  These are all contributing factors, but we wouldn’t have made this decision based on these benefits alone.

“We were confident that the proven advantages of the NOVA eT could help us to resolve both the current quality concern, and reduce the cycle time.  Having now eliminated the gas burning issue and also significantly reduced cycle times, we were right to be optimistic.”

“Venting is no longer an issue, as we are able to commence material injection when the tool faces are exactly 0.5mm apart.  This ability to utilise ‘pre-injection’ has both resolved the quality issue and contributed towards the cycle time improvement.

“Most of the cycle time reduction directly relates to the machine’s technological advantages.  For example, the opening stroke has been reduced by a second, the machine ‘relaxing’ the toggles towards the end of the cooling phase.  This means that acceleration is virtually instantaneous once mould opening commences.

“Component ejection now commences once mould open is at 60mm.  This ability to ‘eject on the fly’ also means that there is no dwell between mould fully open and mould close commencing.”

“In summary, the NOVA eT is a ‘fast’ machine when you compare it to a servo-hydraulic equivalent.  All movements have a higher acceleration and deceleration curve, which when coupled with the ability to overlap all phases of the mould cycle, equates to greater productivity.

“All-Electric technology comes with a price premium, only some of which can be justified by energy savings.  Shaving 20% off a cycle time is the real benefit to us, as higher productivity means lower part cost and a quicker ROI.”

Negri Bossi Group CEO, Craig Ward, recently attended an Open Day at the UK’s Rugby facility.  His presentation made a very compelling argument for investment in all-electric technology when machines are below 250 tonnes, citing ‘life costs’ and productivity levels as paramount to European manufacturing facilities and their related overheads.

He went on to postulate that most costings/justifications for the higher levels of investment required were not sophisticated enough and therefore accurate enough to give the correct outcome when deciding between hydraulic or all-electric technology.  When done correctly, the conclusion should invariably be, that in the European market, there was no longer a place for a high-end, sub-250-tonne hydraulic machine.  Investing in machines such as the NOVA eT should future proof the purchasing decision, as the argument will only become more compelling during the service life of the equipment.

The NOVA eT range is available in tonnages between 50 and 350 tonnes and with a choice of injection units.  A 130-tonne machine is currently available to view at Negri Bossi UK’s Rugby showroom.