Midwest Molding Expands Factory Space with L‑Mount Robots

Midwest Molding Inc., a family‑owned custom injection‑mold manufacturer in Bartlett, Ill., began operations in 2007. By 2015, rapid growth prompted a need for smarter use of limited floor space. The company turned to Wittmann Battenfeld, Inc. of Torrington, Conn., which has a tech center in South Elgin, Ill., to devise a solution. Midwest Molding has equipped every press with a robot—using Wittmann robots since 1999—and was ready for a change.

The breakthrough came with the adoption of L‑mount robotic systems. Traditional robot mounts extend outward from the press, requiring several extra feet of clearance. L‑mounts, by contrast, guide the robot along a beam adjacent to the non‑operator side of the machine, allowing the robot to deposit parts directly at the injection‑mold end. This configuration reduces the robot’s footprint to less than half the space required by conventional mounts, enabling machines to sit closer together.

As a result, Midwest Molding now operates 55 machines with the capacity to add up to 25 more within the same footprint. To ensure these robots can handle the firm’s most demanding jobs, every new unit was upgraded with an A/C servo flip and a rototation wrist. These enhancements maximize the robot’s reach and flexibility.

“The programming on these robots is a real advantage,” says Mayur Patel, Midwest Molding manager. “The open architecture lets us create complex, custom processes, and built‑in features like SmartRemoval and EcoMold save costs. EcoMode automatically slows the robot during extended cycle times to reduce energy use and wear, while SmartRemoval ties the robot’s movements directly to machine operations for the most efficient, timely part handling without operator intervention.”