Sepro Accelerates Injection Molding with Speed S5‑25 and Collaborative Seprobot

At Fakuma 2018 in Germany, Sepro unveiled two breakthrough solutions that push injection‑molding robotics to new speed and safety standards.

Speed S5‑25: 50 % Faster Cartesian Robot

The upgraded Sepro S5‑25 Speed delivers a vertical (Z‑axis) stroke rate 50 % faster than the original model, cutting robot in/out times to under one second and achieving complete molding cycles in less than four seconds. The performance boost comes from a high‑torque servomotor, enhanced electronics, upgraded pneumatic valves, and a lighter telescoping arm.

Designed for Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s “Speed 7” line, it targets 120‑ to 450‑ton presses used for simple packaging such as flower pots, thin‑wall food containers, and tubs. Key specifications include a 7 kg payload (with tooling), horizontal stroke of 1,500 – 6,000 mm, demolding stroke of 700 mm, and vertical stroke of 1,200 mm.

Upcoming Models

Sepro previously launched the compact S5‑15 Speed two years ago, and a larger S5‑35 Speed unit is scheduled for debut at K 2019. In October, the company will also release the Visual 4 control system, further simplifying operation.

Seprobot: Collaborative Injection‑Molding Robot

The Seprobot is a “collaborative robot solution” that delivers the speed and payload of conventional three‑, five‑ or six‑axis robots while enabling safe human interaction. It addresses the 40 % of molding lines where operators must occasionally remove finished parts or feed components into the robot’s work envelope.

Its safety strategy combines a physical enclosure with guarded access points protected by laser scanners, light curtains, or equivalent sensors. The robot continues to run at full speed when the enclosure is clear, automatically slowing or stopping only when a human is detected, and resumes full speed immediately after the operator exits.