Milacron focuses on clean room-ready press
Strong demand for projects and requests for quotes have Ferromatik Milacron GmbH officials feeling confident about the latest addition to the all-electric eQ series of injection molding machines.
Introduced a year ago at Fakuma, the eQ80 press produces hinges for floor mops in a monosandwich (MSW) process using polypropylene for the skin material and a post-consumer recyclate for the core.
The new press also comes clean room-ready — a capability the Malterdingen, Germany-based machine builder will spotlight at K 2025. At K, the eQ80 will produce syringe caps for the safety and sterility of medical injections, which need to meet strict regulatory standards.
“Demonstrating the eQ80’s ability to efficiently produce high-quality, intricate medical components like syringe caps highlights its suitability for the medical industry, where precision, reliability and cleanliness are critical,” said Alex Boos, managing director of the German business unit, also called Milacron Europe.
The demonstration emphasizes advanced technology features, such as fine detail replication, consistent quality and efficient cycle times, which is vital for medical processors, Boos said.
The machine platform is controlled by the latest generation of servo drives, which Boos said results in maximized acceleration, precise control and reduced cycle times.
Regenerative servo drive technology also lowers energy consumption by feeding excess energy back to the power supply.
“Engineered for greater rigidity, eQ Series’ proven performance delivers the freedom to produce almost anything with one machine,” Boos said.
The versatile press series can produce multimaterial and multicomponent products, such as automotive interior components, consumer electronics and high-end packaging.
“The machine’s advanced control system and precise clamping and injection capabilities allow for seamless integration of different materials or colors within a single part, expanding design possibilities and functional performance,” Boos said.
Milacron has won a number of strategic projects this year, he added. “Our sales team has been actively engaging with customers across different regions, and the feedback has been very positive regarding the eQ’s innovative features, energy efficiency and reliability,” Boos said.
Most of the early adopters have been custom molders that require flexible and efficient solutions for complex molding tasks, Boos said.
“Additionally, the eQ is gaining traction in the consumer goods sector, where manufacturers benefit from its precision and energy savings, and in packaging applications, where high throughput and reliability are critical,” Boos said.
He called the early adopters forward-thinking companies turning to technology to improve production efficiency, reduce operational costs and stay competitive.
Unlike its competitors, Boos said, the eQ Series offers a suite of optional features that can be tailored to meet diverse production requirements for high-volume manufacturing or specialized applications. He pointed to Milacron’s M-Powered remote support system for real-time diagnostics, proactive maintenance alerts and remote troubleshooting.
The eQ Series also is equipped with the advanced Mosaic control system, which Boos said offers built-in process customization features to handle specialized and complex molding applications.
“A key standard feature is the ability to perform core pulls, allowing for the production of intricate parts with undercuts or internal features without the need for secondary operations,” Boos said.
The Mosaic control also provides programmable multistage injection profiles, precise temperature and pressure controls, and customizable cycle parameters, which Boos said lets operators tailor the process to specific materials and part geometries.
“These capabilities ensure that the machine can efficiently produce highly specialized items, such as multimaterial or multishot components, with consistent quality and minimal setup time,” Boos said. “The combination of these standard features makes the eQ Series highly versatile and capable of meeting the demanding needs of advanced manufacturing environments.”
In addition, an integrated hydraulic powerpack reduces the overall footprint of the machine and simplifies setup.
“By incorporating the powerpack within the base of the eQ Series, we eliminate the need for external hydraulic units, saving valuable floor space and reducing installation complexity,” Boos said.
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