What really matters in drives for plastics machinery
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One industry , countless applications . Plastics technology not only requires a wide range of machines , but also drive components that can be flexibly adapted . Benjamin Mönnig , Head of Application Sales at KEB Automation , explains what is important in plastics technology and why increased sustainability and plastics processing can work together in practice .
In which areas of plastics technology do customers rely on KEB in particular ? With our drive solutions , we are represented in all areas of plastics technology . This includes extrusion technology , such as blown film lines with auxiliary drives , profile extrusion or blow moulding machines . But we also supply injection moulding machines such as all-electric , hybrid or hydraulic machines with servo pumps , always with the aim of making the machine or system as efficient as possible .
Different fields of application also means different requirements for the drive and automation solutions . How does KEB meet these needs ?
Providing individual solutions for our customers in the plastics industry are our strength . Our experts from the plastics team go into detail about the requirements of the respective application and therefore find the right drive solution . Users benefit from our system solutions . This means starting with brakes for rotary table drives , gearboxes , servo motors , drive controllers , industry-specific software and control technology . We provide customers with coordinated hardware and software solutions from a single source that are specially tailored to the plastics machine .
Which aspects of drive technology are manufacturers of plastics machinery currently attaching greater importance to ?
Plant and machine builders have a justified interest in a high level of efficiency for their application . In addition , the quality of the drive components must be convincing to ensure maximum reliability and efficiency over a long service life and to prevent production downtime . A fast and globally positioned service is also important in order to receive straightforward and competent support if the unexpected should occur . Many customers also rely on the advantages of sensorless control or DC coupling . This enables the exchange of energy with other drive controllers , saves energy and ultimately contributes to increased sustainability . We also offer our customers options for feeding the surplus energy back into the grid .
Plastics processing and sustainability sounds like a contradiction . To what extent can KEB ’ s drive solutions have a positive environmental impact in plastics machines ?
It ’ s not a contradiction . Our drive controllers provide very high control quality in terms of speed and torque accuracy . This increases reproducibility and significantly reduces rejects .
Furthermore , it enables the end customer to produce particularly thin-walled materials . This , in turn , has a positive impact on the subsequent transport of the packaging and therefore also on the environmental impact , which can be reduced in this way . The importance of plastics in sustainable industries such as electromobility and the role they play in a well-functioning circular economy should also not be forgotten . However , sustainability at KEB already starts with the production of our components . Product design focuses on the lowest possible consumption of resources and at the end of the lifecycle , around 75 per cent of our product can be recycled .
About KEB Automation KG
KEB provides a complete Automation Solution from gear shaft to HMI screen , including motion control up to CNC level , safety systems with FsoE ( Failsafe over EtherCAT ) and visualisation . KEB ’ s aim is always to find the optimum drive and control solution tailored to suit a customer ’ s precise requirements .
For more information , please visit www . keb . co . uk