Engel said it is increasingly receiving requests for custom solutions in the extremely high clamping force range. Clamping forces of 10,000 tons and more are possible. Machines of this size can process individual shot weights of several hundred kilograms or pounds and achieve two-ton-per-hour material throughput.

“We have made significant investments in new equipment, and this will allow us to produce our products more effectively and efficiently,” said Bryan Coppes, vice president of engineering and R&D at Infiltrator. “It is the new capabilities and opportunities for continued product development that are truly exciting. This new equipment will allow us to continue to bring new and innovative products to market and meet and exceed our customers' needs.”

Engel added in the news release that it shares a commitment to sustainability with ADS, which claims to recycle more plastic than any other company in North America.

OEMs can now source economical steel tools manufactured overseas and shipped to Mexico for reliable, nearshore production—seamlessly through Fictiv's global manufacturing network.

Getting the 8,000-ton machines from Austria to the Infiltrator Water Technologies plant in Kentucky was a logistical challenge.

Two injection molding machines with a clamping force of 8,000 tons each have now been delivered by Austrian injection molding machine maker Engel to the Infiltrator Water Technologies (IWT) plant in Winchester, KY. IWT took delivery of the first Engel duo 130000/130000H/8200 combi US machine, the largest machine ever built at Engel’s St. Valentin facility in Austria, in February of last year. A second machine, a replica of the first, arrived at the facility this month. IWT, a subsidiary of Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS), produces water management products.

"We are seeing strong demand for shorter supply chains that mitigate the risk of disruption for critical production programs," said Ernesto Chacon, General Manager of Fictiv Mexico. "Mexico is a growing powerhouse for production manufacturing, and we're proud to provide our customers with unprecedented access to high-quality supply in new and emerging regions."

Fictiv is a global manufacturing company that simplifies sourcing for custom manufacturing, from prototype to low-volume production. Through its highly-vetted manufacturing network, AI-powered technology platform, and global operations centers across the USA, Mexico, India, and China, Fictiv delivers fast, high-quality custom manufacturing services from quote to delivery. Fictiv's capabilities span the full mechanical bill of materials, including Injection Molding, Compression Molding, 3D Printing, CNC Machining, Die Casting, and Sheet Metal. To date, Fictiv has delivered more than 30 million commercial and prototype parts for early-stage companies and large enterprises alike, helping them innovate faster, free up precious resources, and drive profitable growth.

Fictiv, a global manufacturing company, is proud to announce that it has been named a 2024 Great Supply Chain Partner by SupplyChainBrain. This...

SAN FRANCISCO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fictiv, a global manufacturing company, today announced a new hybrid injection molding solution for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who need the best possible tooling craftsmanship for reliable nearshore production. Through Fictiv's global manufacturing network, OEMs can seamlessly order high-quality, production-grade tools manufactured in China in as fast as 4 weeks and then transferred to Mexico. This service provides the best total cost of ownership for molding in Mexico, including expert tool packaging and transfer to Mexico from China, bringing together the best of all worlds.

Special shipping and ground transportation arrangements were needed to move the machine from Austria to the United States and even within Austria. The platens were transported to and from the St. Valentin manufacturing facility along the Danube River on barges. “Each machine was fully assembled and tested prior to shipping and then disassembled to be shipped to the United States,” said Jim Moran, business development manager at Engel North America.

Fictiv, a global manufacturing company, today announced the release of its ninth-annual State of Manufacturing Report—an industry-leading survey of...

This new offering from Fictiv provides customers unprecedented global supply chain flexibility and enables companies to increase their supply chain stability, lower tooling costs, reduce tariffs and shipping costs, and increase supply chain speed.

This solution comes at a time when manufacturing companies are facing intense pressure to reduce costs and expand margins while simultaneously addressing global supply chain risks. According to research, 51% of manufacturing leaders reported in 2023 a desire to increase nearshoring as part of their global supply chain strategy.

Engel said it received the purchase order in November 2020 and completed handover of the first machine in February 2022. The second machine, a replica of the first, was delivered this month.

The duo injection molding machines each have two 85,000 cm³ injection units, which allow for injecting a total shot weight of 270 lb (122 kg). Despite the clamping force and shot size, the machines have a relatively small footprint — 96 ft. (29.3 meters) long and 37 ft. (6.4 meters) wide — enabled by Engel’s two-platen design.

Setting up supply chains in new global regions is typically a very time and cash-intensive investment for manufacturing companies that can be prohibitive. Through its global network of highly-vetted manufacturing partners, digital quote-to-order platform, and regional teams around the world, Fictiv simplifies the process of setting up new supply chains, providing a faster, more economical path to market for manufacturing companies of all sizes.

At the IWT site in Winchester, new manufacturing facilities had to be built to house the large machines. As 29 truckloads of machine parts were arriving from Austria, the 59,000-square-foot building expansion went forward. A 150-ton overhead crane was installed to move molds in and out of the machine and was also used to help assemble the new press.

This solution comes at a time when manufacturing companies are facing intense pressure to reduce costs and expand margins while simultaneously addressing global supply chain risks. According to research, 51% of manufacturing leaders reported in 2023 a desire to increase nearshoring as part of their global supply chain strategy.

Engel was recently awarded a gold sustainability rating by EcoVadis, which relies on data from more than 90,000 evaluated companies and global supply chains to rank companies.