Mold-Masters has extended the capabilities of its E-Multi auxiliary injection platform, introducing the new larger capacity EM5 model.

The management team at Vibrom believes that there is still enormous potential for new CIM and MIM applications, not only in the industry sectors it currently serves but also in many other sectors. However, it was stated that awareness of Powder Injection Moulding is extremely poor at many Czech companies and academic establishments and that much more should be done to educate future material and design engineers. “It helps to be able to show design engineers and students real parts in real applications in order to allay their fears about porosity and the performance of MIM parts. We are trying to reach out to new customers by giving them presentations about how MIM and CIM technology works, and we try to convince part designers that metal parts can be designed using plastic moulding concepts and not just machining. It is important to emphasise the point that although the input cost of materials for PIM is higher than conventional metal forming processes and that tool costs can also be high, the price of complex MIM parts with high dimensional tolerances is usually three times lower than an equivalent machined part,” stated Alžběta.

“The EM5 supports the same concept, but costs less, has a better lead time and helps us be more competitive because speed to market these days is everything,” Frederick says.

Fig. 3 Ivan Jebavý, left, explaining the MIM process to guests at the opening of Vibrom’s Metal Injection Moulding facility

Successfully starting or restarting an injection molding machine is less about ticking boxes on a rote checklist and more about individually assessing each processing scenario and its unique variables.

In this collection of content, we provide expert advice on welding from some of the leading authorities in the field, with tips on such matters as controls, as well as insights on how to solve common problems in welding.

Wittmann Battenfeld will introduce the new EcoPower B8X injection molding machine line and show direct current as an energy source for a concept machine that will power its own robot.

Discover suppliers of these and more in our advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of PIM International.

Alžběta Jebavá, one of the daughters of the founder with responsibilty for process engineering and marketing, told PIM International, “We used a homemade moulding machine for the process and the technology worked perfectly. However, it was the success of this process that led us to venture into Ceramic Injection Moulding. My father had seen some articles on Ceramic Injection Moulding in magazines and we investigated how we could produce CIM parts, initially using our own homemade equipment to produce prototypes. However, whilst the process worked well we quickly realised that we needed more modern equipment for high quality components and we invested in the necessary injection moulding machines and furnaces.”

While the major correction in PP prices was finally underway, generally stable pricing was anticipated for the other four commodity resins.

In a world of rising costs and uncertain market conditions, the ability to wring maximum profits from existing business was truly the mark of a Top Shop in 2022.

Extensive MIM, CIM industry and sinter-based AM industry news, plus the following exclusive deep-dive articles and reports:

In this collection of articles, two of the industry’s foremost authorities on screw design — Jim Frankand and Mark Spalding — offer their sage advice on screw design...what works, what doesn’t, and what to look for when things start going wrong.

In 2012 Vibrom started to investigate the production of components by Metal Injection Moulding. As with ceramics, Ivan Jebavý had seen reports in the literature about MIM technology and decided to purchase a trial lot of MIM Catamold feedstock from BASF to produce some prototype parts. “At first we used our existing moulding equipment and furnaces and, following a few production trials, we decided to venture into MIM production and to obtain the best feedstock material and equipment available on the market. For us this was a combination of BASF’s Catamold feedstock, fully automatic Arburg 370 moulding machines (Fig. 2) and an Elnik Systems debind and sintering furnace. We presently use a range of metal feedstocks including low alloy steels, stainless steels and tungsten. We also have ambitions to produce titanium MIM parts, which are currently being tested,” stated Alžběta.

When, how, what and why to automate — leading robotics suppliers and forward-thinking moldmakers will share their insights on automating manufacturing at collocated event.

Plastics Technology covers technical and business Information for Plastics Processors in Injection Molding, Extrusion, Blow Molding, Plastic Additives, Compounding, Plastic Materials, and Resin Pricing. About Us

Join Engel in exploring the future of battery molding technology. Discover advancements in thermoplastic composites for battery housings, innovative automation solutions and the latest in large-tonnage equipment designed for e-mobility — all with a focus on cost-efficient solutions. Agenda: Learn about cutting-edge thermoplastic composites for durable, sustainable and cost-efficient battery housings Explore advanced automation concepts for efficient and scalable production See the latest large-tonnage equipment and technology innovations for e-mobility solutions

The biggest advantage for Core in shifting this production to two-shot versus insertion and overmolding was staffing. “The biggest piece is the labor aspect,” Frederick says. “You go from taking molded substrates and placing them in the tool, dedicating half an operator for just putting parts into boxes, to now where machines do all the work in one press with one mold.”

Mike Sepe has authored more than 25 ANTEC papers and more than 250 articles illustrating the importance of this interdisciplanary approach. In this collection, we present some of his best work during the years he has been contributing for Plastics Technology Magazine.

Ultradent's entry of its Umbrella cheek retractor took home the awards for Technical Sophistication and Achievement in Economics and Efficiency at PTXPO.

Sustainability continues to dominate new additives technology, but upping performance is also evident. Most of the new additives have been targeted to commodity resins and particularly polyolefins.

August 29-30 in Minneapolis all things injection molding and moldmaking will be happening at the Hyatt Regency — check out who’s speaking on what topics today.

Alžběta Jebavá explained that Vibrom’s key focus is quality rather than quantity. The company is focusing on complex shaped MIM and CIM parts with high dimensional tolerances but with lower than typical production volumes, typically starting at around 5,000 pieces. “As a small company with just twenty employees we can be flexible and react quickly to customers’ demands. We are open to all technical components, but we pay particular attention to parts requiring high quality in smaller batches.”

Both thermal and catalytic debinding methods are used depending on the feedstock being processed. “We did not consider preparing our own feedstock because there is such a wide variety of materials already available in the form of ready-to-mould feedstock and we wanted to focus on developing applications,” explained Alžběta.

Introduced by Zeiger and Spark Industries at the PTXPO, the nozzle is designed for maximum heat transfer and uniformity with a continuous taper for self cleaning.

Join KraussMaffei for an insightful webinar designed for industry professionals, engineers and anyone interested in the manufacturing processes of PVC pipes. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of the technology behind the production of high-quality PVC pipes: from raw material preparation to final product testing. Agenda: Introduction to PVC extrusion: overview of the basic principles of PVC pipe extrusion — including the process of melting and shaping PVC resin into pipe forms Equipment and machinery: detailed explanation of the key equipment involved — such as extruders, dies and cooling systems — and their roles in the extrusion process Process parameters: insight into the critical process parameters like temperature, pressure and cooling rates that influence the quality and consistency of the final PVC pipes Energy efficiency: examination of ways to save material and energy use when extruding PVC pipe products

Plastics Technology’s Tech Days is back! Every Tuesday in October, a series of five online presentations will be given by industry supplier around the following topics:  Injection Molding — New Technologies, Efficiencies Film Extrusion — New Technologies, Efficiencies Upstream/Downstream Operations Injection Molding — Sustainability Extrusion — Compounding Coming out of NPE2024, PT identified a variety of topics, technologies and trends that are driving and shaping the evolution of plastic products manufacturing — from recycling/recyclability and energy optimization to AI-based process control and automation implementation. PT Tech Days is designed to provide a robust, curated, accessible platform through which plastics professionals can explore these trends, have direct access to subject-matter experts and develop strategies for applying solutions in their operations.

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has released final figures for NPE2024: The Plastics Show (May 6-10; Orlando) that officially make it the largest ever NPE in several key metrics.

Say “manufacturing automation” and thoughts immediately go to the shop floor and specialized production equipment, robotics and material handling systems. But there is another realm of possible automation — the front office.

Mixed in among thought leaders from leading suppliers to injection molders and mold makers at the 2023 Molding and MoldMaking conferences will be molders and toolmakers themselves.

Fig. 2 Automatic part removal at Vibrom using Arburg’s Multilift H system linked to an Allrounder 370S injection moulding machine

Across the show, sustainability ruled in new materials technology, from polyolefins and engineering resins to biobased materials.

Gifted with extraordinary technical know how and an authoritative yet plain English writing style, in this collection of articles Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.

This month’s resin pricing report includes PT’s quarterly check-in on select engineering resins, including nylon 6 and 66.

A customer request for multi-material molding presented a market opportunity and potential financial peril: How do you add two-shot without also overextending yourself from an investment perspective?

Made for a well-known American industrial tool brand, the plastic bumper component is a decorative and functional all-plastic part assembled onto a large, rolling, automotive mechanic toolbox cart. Featuring high finish and surface quality requirements, the bumper is roughly three feet in length, and incorporates two colors and clean shutoffs for a crisp, sharp imprint of the company brand, including the trademark icon. The design calls for red nylon 6/6 substrate to be overmolded with soft TPU in a 2+2 mold, with the black rubber framing the red logo.

Reach a truly international audience that includes component manufacturers, end-users, industry suppliers, analysts, researchers and more.

Alžběta told PIM International that the biggest challenge in the early days of CIM production was to find the correct ratio of ceramic powder and binder. “We are still producing our own Ceramic Injection Moulding feedstock for white ZrO2 and Al2O3 because we have developed the know-how for these powders and this option is cheaper than bought-in feedstock. However, we do buy in ready-to-use feedstock for black ZrO2, mainly from BASF.” Other significant challenges included injection moulding tools. Alžběta commented, “Every new tool is unique and requires tuning. This needs experience, time and determination. PIM tools are generally made by companies that are more experienced with moulds for plastics. It is really difficult to find good precision tool manufacturers so we rely on suppliers from outside our region. It takes a lot of driving to finish the mould but it’s worth it!”

Learn about sustainable scrap reprocessing—this resource offers a deep dive into everything from granulator types and options, to service tips, videos and technical articles.

In addition to efficiency, Core said lead time and total cost helped make the case for the EM5. When quoting a dedicated 2K injection molding machine with a rotary table, Core was given lead times of 50 to 52 weeks, compared to 14-16 weeks for the EM5, which was slightly less than the quoted mold-build time for the job, creating a scenario where the EM5 could be installed and ready for the new tool to start production on day 1.

Processors with sustainability goals or mandates have a number of ways to reach their goals. Biopolymers are among them.

Like Core, the customer is based in the Southeast — a region wanting when it comes to molders with 2-shot capabilities in the medium tonnage range (which is one reason Core got into multimaterial molding back in 2019). Core has a lot of exposure and expertise in automotive but serves a variety of markets beyond that, including medical, packaging and outdoor power equipment, among others.

After successfully introducing a combined conference for moldmakers and injection molders in 2022, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology are once again joining forces for a tooling/molding two-for-one.

Vibrom has a number of customers in the Czech Republic who take around 50% of current production. The balance of production is exported to customers in Denmark, Germany, Slovakia and as far afield as China. Sectors served include the textile industry, firearms, medical instruments and the electro-mechanical goods industry.

“The logo aspect,” Frederick says, “that’s everything to the customer, and it’s really precision molding at that point. This is not a shoot-and-ship part, that’s an A surface, and we have to make sure our process is robust.”

The aim of this presentation is to guide you through the factors and the numbers that will help you determine if a robot is a smart investment for your application. Agenda:  Why are you considering automation? What problems are you trying to solve? How and why automation can help Crunch the numbers and determine the ROI

Multiple speakers at Molding 2023 will address the ways simulation can impact material substitution decisions, process profitability and simplification of mold design.

Core Technology Molding became one of the first users of Mold-Masters’ E-Multi 5 auxiliary injection unit. The inset shows a replica of the toolbox part showcasing the precision shutoffs required to help the red logo “pop.” Source: Mold-Masters

technotrans says climate protection, energy efficiency and customization will be key discussion topics at PTXPO as it displays its protemp flow 6 ultrasonic eco and the teco cs 90t 9.1 TCUs.

Exhibitors and presenters at the plastics show emphasized 3D printing as a complement and aid to more traditional production processes.

Core Technology Molding turned to Mold-Masters E-Multi auxiliary injection unit to help it win a job and dramatically change its process.

One of the first to utilize Mold-Masters’ newest, largest auxiliary injection units —the E-Multi 5 (EM5) — Core Technology Molding Corp., Greensboro, North Carolina, was able to produce a 2-shot “bumper” component for a rolling toolbox cart four times faster and at half the cost compared to the prior production setup. “The previous process couldn’t make sellable parts in the same day,” explains Brandon Frederick, Core’s engineering manager. “Prior production had two different processes, two different tools and two operators. We’re half the cost — we didn’t need two machines.”

Take a deep dive into all of the various aspects of part quoting to ensure you’ve got all the bases—as in costs—covered before preparing your customer’s quote for services.

Join this webinar to explore the transformative benefits of retrofitting your existing injection molding machines (IMMs). Engel will guide you through upgrading your equipment to enhance monitoring, control and adaptability — all while integrating digital technologies. You'll learn about the latest trends in IMM retrofitting (including Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits) and discover how to future-proof your machines for a competitive edge. With insights from industry experts, it'll walk you through the decision-making process, ensuring you make informed choices that drive your business forward. Agenda: Maximize the value of your current IMMs through strategic retrofitting Learn how to integrate digital technologies to enhance monitoring and control Explore the benefits of Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits Understand how retrofitting can help meet new product demands and improve adaptability Discover how Engel can support your retrofitting needs, from free consultations to execution

Join Wittmann for an engaging webinar on the transformative impact of manufacturing execution systems (MES) in the plastic injection molding industry. Discover how MES enhances production efficiency, quality control and real-time monitoring while also reducing downtime. It will explore the integration of MES with existing systems, emphasizing compliance and traceability for automotive and medical sectors. Learn about the latest advancements in IoT and AI technologies and how they drive innovation and continuous improvement in MES. Agenda: Overview of MES benefits What is MES? Definition, role and brief history Historical perspective and evolution Longevity and analytics Connectivity: importance, standards and integration Advantages of MES: efficiency, real-time data, traceability and cost savings Emerging technologies: IoT and AI in MES

“We have ambitions to grow as a company and we plan to promote our technology and expertise at more exhibitions. We are particularly keen to develop new parts for customers using MIM titanium powders, but there is a big variety of MIM materials on the market that we can also offer.”

Despite price increase nominations going into second quarter, it appeared there was potential for generally flat pricing with the exception of a major downward correction for PP.

Vibrom s.r.o. is a small, family-run company based in Trebechovice pod Orebem, a small town of around six thousand inhabitants near the city of Hradec Kralove in the Czech Republic. The company was originally established in 1993 under the name ‘Ing. Ivan Jebavý – Vibrom’ to design and produce vibration mills. Two years later, in 1995, the company started the production of ceramic yarn guides for the textile industry using the hot casting process. This involved preparing a ceramic slip comprising a fine powder and binder and hot casting the liquid slip into a complex mould under pressure.

In this collection, which is part one of a series representing some of John’s finest work, we present you with five articles that we think you will refer to time and again as you look to solve problems, cut cycle times and improve the quality of the parts you mold.

Additive technology creates air pockets in film during orientation, cutting down on the amount of resin needed while boosting opacity, mechanical properties and recyclability.

A new Metal Injection Moulding production hall was opened in the summer of 2014 (Fig. 4) and, to supplement the newly installed production equipment, Vibrom also installed a tumbling machine to surface finish  MIM parts as necessary. The company has initiated a system of 100% quality control for both its MIM and CIM parts, including a 3D measurement and defectoscopy station for non-destructive testing. Each finished injection moulded part is checked for defects. Some products have their functional surfaces polished and a number of sub-assembly operations are undertaken, such as pressing parts into plastic holders or glue bonding with other components, depending on the customers’ requirements. The company is accredited with ISO 9001:2001.

This Knowledge Center provides an overview of the considerations needed to understand the purchase, operation, and maintenance of a process cooling system.

Vibrom spol. s r.o. Orlická 1271 Trebechovice pod Orebem 503 46 Czech Republic Tel: +420 495 592 051 Fax: +420 495 591 650 Email: [email protected] www.vibrom.cz

The EM5 is attached to the molding machine in an L-shaped configuration on the non-operator side of the press with an injection point on the hot half, stationary half of the tool. E-Multi’s can be installed vertically, horizontally or at any custom angle to accommodate the cell. Freise says that due to the EM5’s size, Mold-Masters expect most of its installs will be horizontal.

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Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.

The free-to-access PIM International magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of MIM, CIM and sinter-based AM from a commercial and technological perspective through:

Resin drying is a crucial, but often-misunderstood area. This collection includes details on why and what you need to dry, how to specify a dryer, and best practices.

Alongside the investment in modern production equipment, the company also decided to move to larger and more suitable premises. In 2003 the move was made to a renovated old boiler house in Trebechovice pod Orebem (Fig. 1)and the company name was changed to Vibrom s.r.o. The new premises housed the Arburg 270 injection moulding machine purchased in the same year for CIM production. Two more Arburg machines have since been purchased for CIM production and a fourth is used for the plastic overmoulding of sintered CIM parts. Modern debinding and sintering furnaces were also added.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

Core Technology Molding turned to Mold-Masters E-Multi auxiliary injection unit to help it win a job and dramatically change its process.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

Across all process types, sustainability was a big theme at NPE2024. But there was plenty to see in automation and artificial intelligence as well.

In a time where sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, the food and beverage packaging industry is required to be at the forefront of this innovation. By adopting circular packaging processes and solutions, producers can meet regulatory requirements while also satisfying consumer demand and enhancing brand reputation. Join Husky to learn more about the broader implications of the circular economy — as well as how leading brands are leveraging this opportunity to reduce costs, increase design flexibility and boost product differentiation. Agenda: The cost and operational benefits of embracing circularity Key materials in circular packaging — including rPET and emerging bioplastics How to design a circular food and beverage package Strategies for selecting sustainable closures to future-proof packaging solutions Optimization and streamlining of production processes for enhanced efficiency How Husky Technologies can enable your sustainable success

AE Plast opted for tiebarless multimaterial Engel victory machines as it took on complex parts for the appliance and power tool market, including a 3K housing for Dremel’s rotary tool.

Second quarter started with price hikes in PE and the four volume engineering resins, but relatively stable pricing was largely expected by the quarter’s end.

FCS Group’s X-Type parallel quartet injection molding machine features four injection units aligned in parallel for a smaller footprint.

While the melting process does not provide perfect mixing, this study shows that mixing is indeed initiated during melting.

Mold maintenance is critical, and with this collection of content we’ve bundled some of the very best advice we’ve published on repairing, maintaining, evaluating and even hanging molds on injection molding machines.

Discover how artifical intelligence is revolutionizing plastics processing. Hear from industry experts on the future impact of AI on your operations and envision a fully interconnected plant.

Formnext Chicago is an industrial additive manufacturing expo taking place April 8-10, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Formnext Chicago is the second in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).

In this three-part collection, veteran molder and moldmaker Jim Fattori brings to bear his 40+ years of on-the-job experience and provides molders his “from the trenches” perspective on on the why, where and how of venting injection molds. Take the trial-and-error out of the molding venting process.

The EM5 was used to inject the red nylon 6/6 substrate while the black overmolded rubber was injected by the machine’s primary injection unit. In the design, the EM5 injected 864 g for the nylon 6/6 substrate, while the machine’s primary injection unit delivered the 800-g TPU overmold with a total cycle time of 70 seconds for the 2+2 mold. Normally, Frederick notes that the auxiliary unit would handle the rubber overmolding, but because the nylon 6/6 could degrade if the residence time was too long, Core utilized the EM5’s smaller barrel and shot size for the nylon. Shot sizes for the EM5 range from 550 to 1,200 g, says Dave Silva, Mold-Masters’ director of product development.