At USD 6.01 billion, Asia Pacific dictated the injection molding machine market share in 2019 and is predicted to maintain its dominant position during the forecast period. This will mainly be a result of robust growth of industries in the region, especially in the SME sector in countries such as India, China, and Vietnam. In addition, government policies supporting manufacturing activities will further encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, benefiting the market in general.

While UR’s UR10 cobot is the most popular among injection molders, Buse said, the IMMI is compatible with all UR cobots, including the UR20 and new UR30. UR’s newest generation of cobots offer more extensive reach into bigger presses up to 750 tons at least. More commonly, machines of 400 tons or less are automated with UR cobots, Buse noted.

When connected, the UR cobot is integrated with the IMM’s safety features, including emergency stop circuits and safety doors. As the injection molding machine is running, it tells the cobot exactly what’s going on in real time so the cobot can perform its functions safely at just the right time.

Key players in this market are constantly engaged in developing injection molding machines that are cost-effective and energy-efficient. By offering future-proof solutions to end-users, these companies are able to broaden and deepen their presence in the market and expand their operations globally.

Geoff Giordano is a tech journalist with more than 30 years’ experience in all facets of publishing. He has reported extensively on the gamut of plastics manufacturing technologies and issues, including 3D printing materials and methods; injection, blow, micro and rotomolding; additives, colorants and nanomodifiers; blown and cast films; packaging; thermoforming; tooling; ancillary equipment; and the circular economy. Contact him at [email protected].

In North America, quick adoption of advanced manufacturing equipment and technologies to compensate the lack of labor will favor the market in the region. In Europe, on the other hand, manufacturers are facing major hurdles in the form of stringent environmental regulations, which is dampening the regional prospects of the market.

UR cobots are light enough to be wheeled from machine to machine, as required, Buse added, so users can “treat the cobot more as an operator.” And because UR cobots can be positioned flexibly simply by specifying an orientation through the control screen, users can bolt them to the platen of a press, on the side, or “in any orientation you can think of.”

UR’s Injection Molding Machine Interface (IMMI) has provided a new level of automation connectivity to the plastics industry since its introduction in 2020, said Christopher Buse, application engineer for UR. Because of the pandemic hiatus, NPE2024 was the first time the IMMI was shown at an NPE.

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Integrating UR cobots with IMMs is as simple as installing the IMMI plug on the cobot’s controller and running a cable between the injection molder and the cobot, Buse explained. The Euromap 67 IO communication protocol means the IMMI runs on all brands of contemporary IMMs; some older machines can be retrofitted.

September 2019: Milacron Holdings showcased its Advanced Plastic Processing Technologies at K 2019, the world’s biggest plastics trade fair, held in Dusseldorf, Germany. Milacron’s product display included CIMCOOL, TIRAD, DME, and Mold-Masters.

Universal Robots (UR) is giving injection molders an easy-to-use interface that seamlessly connects its cobots to injection molding machines (IMMs) — a capability made possible thanks to the standardization of IMMs through the Euromap 67 standard.

New-age, smart technologies powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) have revolutionized manufacturing processes. For example, in the injection molding domain, machines and equipment are embedded with sensors that collect and transmit data to a central system, where they are analyzed. The key feature of these technologies is that they eliminate the need for human intervention. Injection molding machines are widely utilized in manufacturing essential items made from plastics and metals. With the integration of AI and IoT, these machines can work at higher efficiencies compared to their conventional counterparts and this factor is expected to create wide-ranging opportunities for players in this market.

Pune, India, April 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global injection molding machine market is projected to reach USD 20.49 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period. Advent of smart manufacturing technologies will generate numerous innovation opportunities in this market, shares Fortune Business Insights™ in its report, titled “Injection Molding Machine Market Size, Share and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product Type (Plastic, Metal, Rubber, Ceramic, Others), By Machine Type (Electric, Hydraulic, and Hybrid), By Clamping Force (0 - 200 Ton Force, 201 - 500 Ton Force, and Above 500 Ton Force), By End-use Industry (Packaging, Automotive, Electronics and Telecommunication, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Others) and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027”.

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Further, because the cobot can operate without protective shielding, molders don’t have to sacrifice precious manufacturing space.

Companies Covered in Injection Molding Machine Market Research Report are ELECTRONICA PLASTIC MACHINES LIMITED, Engel Austria GmbH, NISSEI AMERICA, INC., Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Milacron Holdings Corp., Haitian International, Ved Machinery, Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., Arburg GmbH + Co KG, Japan Steel Works, Ltd., Chen Hsong Holdings Limited

The global injection molding machine market size was USD 15.39 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 20.49 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period.

Cobots offer injection molders unique benefits over traditional gantry robots, Buse continued. For instance, manufacturers with more compact production floors and low ceilings can’t always accommodate tall gantry robots.

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“When you need to introduce a robot into that cycle, the robot needs to break into that molding process in order to go into the mold safely, extract the plastic parts, and then get out of there safely to allow the mold to shut again,” Buse explained. “That is what the Euromap 67 plug interface is doing. Users can control the sequence through the cobot’s teach pendant on the screen. The software is already embedded — all you have to do is turn it on when you install the line. When you get the inputs and outputs between both machines, you can start programming.”

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has unprecedented uncertainty across industries, hampering investments in new technologies and creation of employment. The injection molding machine market growth is likely to get impacted as well owing to the reduced labor force working in manufacturing plants amid the pandemic. In India, for example, the sudden lockdown announced in March 2020 to contain the spread of the infection forced a huge number of migrant workers, most of who are employed in the country’s burgeoning small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, to leave for their native places. In the US, to take another example, a survey conducted by the National Association of Manufacturers revealed that 53.1% of manufacturers foresee changes in production operations, while 35.5% have been facing issues due to supply chain disruptions. The uptick for this market is the surging demand for plastic medical devices, which are extensively manufactured by injection molding machines. Thus, the demand for these machines from the medical device industry may offset the losses from other industries to a limited extent for players in this market.

And, a cobot allows for “cageless automation” — taking parts out of the dangerous, guarded production environment, then reaching outside that area into an unguarded area like a conveyor belt. Users can also program the cobot to perform secondary operations like degating from the runner or presenting parts to a laser marker.

September 2020: Engel Austria announced the inclusion of the new e-mac 130, which has a clamping force of 1300kN, in its all-electric injection molding machine suite. The new addition will allow the company to entrench its position as the leading supplier of electric injection molding solutions.

The market report provides an in-depth analysis of several factors such as the key drivers and restraints that will impact growth. The report further provides insights into the regional analysis covering different regions, contributing to the market growth. It includes the competitive landscape that involves the leading companies and the adoption of strategies to introduce new products, announce partnerships, and collaborate to further contribute to the market growth. Moreover, the research analyst has adopted several research methodologies such as PORTER’s Five Point analysis to obtain information about the current trends and industry developments that will drive the market growth between 2020 and 2027.