The easix articulated robot requires little headroom and connects the injection molding machine with camera-based quality control and the discharge station. Additional process units can be added retroactively, integrated upstream or downstream of the injection molding process.

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Davalor, a manufacturer and distributor of injection molded plastic products primarily for the automotive industry, is headquartered in Chesterfield, Michigan. Under a new leadership team that includes CEO John Boeschenstein, Davalor's business has experienced rapid organic growth and an expanding customer mix in recent years.

Nexus designed the 64-cavity mould with a demolding device to enable the end-of-arm tooling to easily grip parts. To ensure precise fill control, the cold runners in the mold are equipped with electric needle shut-off systems. Nexus’ Timeshot technology controls the fill quantity as a function of injection time. Each cavity can be controlled individually, even in molds with up to 128 cavities.

“We are excited to welcome the IMC team to Davalor. We are committed to providing our customers with the most advanced, most reliable injection molded plastic products available. As we seek to expand our capabilities beyond our core plastic injection molding offering, we are thrilled to have found a strategic partner with a great management team, a professional and highly capable staff, and a strong, design-for-manufacturing approach to injection molded plastics. I look forward to working together to expand our capabilities on a national scale,” said Boeschenstein.

At stand C58 in hall 15 an e-victory injection molding machine with smart digital assistance supported by Nexus’ mold and plasticizing technology will produce LSR blade valves measuring 7-mm in diameter. Production is fully automated in a 64-cavity mold with an Engel easix articulated robot and integrated vision control system.

The process data of the dosing unit are available during production in the CC300 control system of the injection molding machine and can be used for even more precise process monitoring and continuous optimization. The dosing parameters are stored in the mold's part data record, making them immediately available at the machine control when the mold is set up again.

IMC is an independently run subsidiary of global precision metal manufacturer NN, Inc. Founded in 1947, IMC is a leading manufacturer of precision-engineered injection molded industrial components with international blue chip customers in a wide variety of end markets. The Lubbock, Texas-based manufacturer has an exceptional, long-tenured management team who will continue in their current roles.

About Blackford Capital Founded in 2010, Blackford Capital is a private equity investment firm headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Blackford acquires, manages, and builds founder and family-owned, lower middle-market companies, with a focus on the manufacturing, industrial and distribution industries. Blackford has a track record of exceptional returns, a disciplined and relentless approach to value creation, and a focus on operational excellence and a compelling culture. In 2023, Blackford Capital was named to Inc’s list of Founder-Friendly Investors, was recognized by ACG Detroit with the 2023 M&A Dealmaker of the Year Award and awarded the 2023 Small Markets Deal of the Year award by both Buyouts Magazine and the Global M&A Network Atlas Awards. For more information, visit www.blackfordcapital.com.

Incorporating tie-bar-less servo-hydraulic clamping and electric injection units, the e-victory model machine on display supports low-flash, rework-free processing of low-viscosity materials. The moving platen precisely follows the mold as the clamp force builds up, resulting in optimal platen parallelism, said Engel. Patented force dividers ensure that the clamping force is distributed evenly over the entire platen face. Even in large multi-cavity molds, the same clamping force is applied to cavities near the outer edge of the platen as those near the centre.

This marks the first time that Engel is demonstrating a networked injection molding machine and LSR dosing unit via OPC UA in line with the Euromap 82.3 standard at a trade show.

Nexus also developed the ServoMix X20 LSR dosing system, which ensures air-free dosing, even in very small quantities, of the liquid silicone rubber. Networking via OPC UA and MES authentig by TIG ensures full process data monitoring and complete traceability down to the individual cavity level.

Blaige & Company served as the exclusive financial advisor to NN, Inc. on the transaction. Greenberg Traurig, LLP served as counsel for Blackford Capital, with legal entity support from Varnum LLP. Parliament Capital Management provided lending for the acquisition, with legal support from DLA Piper. Plante Moran advised on financial and tax diligence, and Signature Associates CRE brokered the Sale Leaseback transaction with STORE Capital.

Production of the 7-mm-diameter blades is fully automated in a 64-cavity mold with an Engel easix articulated robot and integrated vision control system.

“Industrial Molding Corporation is an exceptional addition to the Davalor platform, expanding strength of leadership and depth and breadth of capability. Their seasoned leadership team and deep expertise in the plastics injection molding industry will be a capability multiplier for our customers,” said Martin Stein, founder and managing director of Blackford Capital. “With the addition of IMC, we are building a solid foundation for accelerated and sustained growth within the Davalor platform, paving the way for continued expansion and innovation.”

Blade valves are used in a range of applications, from automotive to medical technology, and in all cases the injection molding process must meet strict consistency parameters. At K 2022, Engel and partner company Nexus Elastomer Systems will demo a fully automated production cell molding liquid silicone rubber (LSR) blade valves that achieves consistent quality in a cost-effective manner.

Engel’s iQ weight control smart assistance system continuously analyzes the injection profile and readjusts quality-relevant process parameters in the same cycle whenever deviations occur.

Perfectly timed to realize strong cost synergies and drive non-organic growth, the acquisition of IMC is the first addition to the Davalor platform since being acquired by Blackford Capital in 2016. The expanded platform marks an initial stride toward establishing a global, full-service plastics injection molding business with a wide range of capabilities and a diversified, global customer base.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blackford Capital (“Blackford”), a leading lower middle market private equity firm, announced today the acquisition of Industrial Molding Corporation (“IMC”), an injection molded plastic products manufacturer and subsidiary of NN, Inc. (NASDAQ: NNBR), as the first add-on acquisition for its portfolio company, Davalor Mold Company, LLC (“Davalor”).

About Davalor Mold CompanyFounded in 1979, Davalor Mold Company is a manufacturer and distributor of injection molded plastic products. Headquartered in Chesterfield, Michigan, Davalor offers a wide variety of molded plastic products found in OEM level automotive corporations, which are supplied by Tier 1 automotive suppliers. To learn more about the company, visit www.davalor.com.

Because of the tie-bar-less design, multi-cavity molds may be used on smaller injection molding machines than is customary, providing cost savings without affecting productivity per unit of area, according to Engel.