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Injection molding machines replete with Industry 4.0 bells and whistles along with sophisticated production cells await attendees at the co-located Plastec West/Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West event in Anaheim, CA, on Feb. 7 to 9, 2023. But there are also some exhibitors making the case for simplicity.

Boy is bringing an injection molder that prioritizes flexible, efficient single-cavity molds in lieu of large, complex, and sensitive molds, which may be all a plastics processor needs for certain jobs.

Robotics supplier Sepro will equip several injection molding systems on the show floor to demonstrate that relatively simple automation solutions can go a long way toward solving the skilled labor shortage challenge.

Both of these companies are well-versed in developing highly technical, sophisticated systems, but it’s interesting that they have chosen to highlight simplicity for the user at this year’s show. An incipient trend?

That said, even complex machinery, much of it incorporating automation, is engineered for ease of operation. Companies including Absolute Haitian, Arburg, Husky Technologies, Wittmann, Engel, and Sumitomo (SHI) Demag will be showing their best and brightest on the show floor. Here’s a preview.

Plastec West is co-located with four other events, including Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West, WestPack, ATX (Automation) West, and D&M (Design & Manufacturing) West, at the Anaheim Convention Center on Feb. 7 to 9, 2023. The event is organized by Informa Markets – Engineering, which also produces PlasticsToday.