KraussMaffei Showcases Five Key Technologies in Integrated Molding Cells

KraussMaffei will showcase a portfolio of presses tailored to the large packaging market, including IML, lightweight thermoplastic composites, liquid silicone rubber (LSR), rapid heat/cool molding, and Plastics 4.0 solutions.

• High‑speed medium‑size machines: The GX‑900, unveiled at NPE2018, offers clamping speeds as low as 0.45 sec and injection speeds up to 700 mm/sec. Coupled with an electric screw drive and the HPS high‑performance barrier screw, the machine can mold two 5‑gal paint pails with IML in under 14 sec—a notable feature for this segment.
• Liquid silicone rubber: The PX 51‑55 SilcoSet, an all‑electric press, is used for LSR medical dosing caps (duckbills). Its modular design includes hydraulic nozzle‑contact force, specialized screw seals, and a spring‑loaded check valve for precise part quality.
• Composites overmolding: Building on FiberForm technology, KraussMaffei overmolds thermoplastic composite sheets with a rigid thermoplastic layer for structural integrity and a soft‑touch TPE for consumer comfort. An auto armrest produced on a GWX 450 press demonstrates this capability.
• Rapid heat/cool molding: The Roctool system enables inductive mold‑heat balancing, allowing a 16‑cavity tool to produce plaques with varied surface finishes—glossy, matte, holographic—within a single shot. The LRX 150 linear robot, with a 15‑kg payload, performs bagging and packaging inside the molding enclosure.
• Industry 4.0 (Plastics 4.0): KraussMaffei’s APC+ adaptive process‑control software automatically adjusts for material viscosity and ambient conditions, enriched by a library of melt density and compressibility data. DataXplorer offers up to 500 high‑resolution signal paths, giving operators near‑microscopic insight into process dynamics.

These innovations position KraussMaffei as a leader in delivering high‑performance, intelligent molding solutions that meet the evolving demands of packaging, automotive, medical, and consumer markets.