Krauss Maffei’s EX Injection Moulding Machine – achieves close to zero reject rate

Krauss Maffei of Munich Germany, a world leader in plastics machinery have installed an all-electric EX series injection moulding machine for Bernhard Kneifel Werkzeugbau GmbH in Bad Aibling, Germany. The machine is being used to inject liquid silicone seals onto polyamide Grivory HT1V substrates with 40% glass fiber content. The company builds moulds and tooling, and also runs a contract moulding operation, supplying components to many sectors, including the white goods sector.

Kneifel have reduced their logistic efforts and increased the yield of their quality components, by producing the silicone seal application in-house. The Krauss Maffei EX Series Injection Moulding machinery was chosen because of it’s speed and high precision. The three platen electric clamp unit features a unique Z-toggle system. The number of moving parts has been reduced to provide higher precision and reliability and to lower wear. The plasticizing and injection units are direct drive systems with high-torque motors. The force of two coupled electric motors is transmitted directly to the screw.

Managing Directors Martin & Andreas Kneifel explain their decision to bring the process step in-house. “We are able to save substantial processing costs. We’ve eliminated the logistic efforts and transport costs, and also the necessity for cleaning and reheating the substrates before applying the seal. Despite the extra effort involved, the yield of good parts never matched what we are now regularly achieving – our reject rate is now close to zero”