K 2019: Arburg launches arburgGREENworld programme

Arburg's presence at the leading international trade fair K 2019 in Düsseldorf, Germany, will focus on the topics of digitalisation and circular economy.

With "arburgXworld" and "arburgGREENworld", Arburg provides answers to important and pressing questions for the world of plastics processing and use – a world which includes an increasing number of perspectives. The primary goal is to conserve resources and thereby make a significant contribution to production efficiency.

“Every three years, the world of plastics looks to Düsseldorf to see where the journey is headed in the future," said Michael Hehl, Managing Partner and spokesman for the Arburg Management Board, underlining the value of K for the Black-Forest based company. "Our one world is becoming ever more complex and richer in perspectives, so that our challenges are growing accordingly.” Arburg will demonstrate what this can look like in practice by means of pioneering exhibits and applications.

A total of 20 Arburg exhibits at K 2019 will therefore cover a wide range of processes. Eight Allrounders and one Freeformer will be demonstrating new machine technology as well as innovative applications and processes on the Arburg stand. Another eleven machines can be seen on partner stands.? The digital world of Arburg

The booth at K 2019 will offer more digital Arburg world than ever before. At ten interactive stations along the "Road to Digitalisation", visitors are able to learn more about "smart machines", "smart production" and "smart services". This include, for example, the new "Plasticising Assistant" for material processing and predictive maintenance at the screw, and the control system simulator.?

Arburg’s six proven assistance packages, the Arburg host computer system (ALS), the Arburg Turnkey Control Module (ATCM) and the Arburg Remote Service (ARS) will also be presented at K 2019.

All injection moulding exhibits are provided with so-called "Basis Connectivity", i.e., they have an IIoT-Gateway and can be interconnected with the higher-ranking ARS und "arburgXworld" customer portal systems easily and standardised using interfaces.

New apps in the "arburgXworld" customer portal

The "arburgXworld" customer portal has been available to customers in Germany since March 2019. In addition to free functions such as the main "Machine Center", "Service Center", "Shop" and "Calendar” apps, there will be additional fee-based functions offering considerable added value starting at K 2019.

New features are, for example, the "Self Service", the dashboard for the machine status, the control system simulator, the collection of process data and the machine design. In addition, the customer portal will be available internationally in 18 languages as of the trade fair.

“Smart” Allrounder knows the component to be produced

On an Allrounder 570 A with a clamping force of 2,000 kN and Gestica control system, Arburg will demonstrate a particularly "smart" application. The new filling assistant is integrated into the control system, meaning that the Allrounder "knows" the moulded part it is to produce – in this case a pair of Uvex goggles made of PA12.

At the Gestica control system, the degree of part filling, relative to the current screw position, is animated in real time as a 3D graphic. The machine operator can compare the results of the simulation created offline with the filling performance of the last cycle interactively on the Gestica monitor.

The electric Allrounder 570 A is integrated into a turnkey system. It is used to injection-mould sophisticated goggles in a cycle time of around 45 seconds. Pick-up and transfer for optical inspection, laser marking and packaging is handled by a six-axis robot. In addition, the production cell is equipped with the Arburg Turnkey Control Module (ATCM) SCADA system, which enables 100% traceability of the parts.

Circular economy in practice

Arburg will be presenting two applications on this topic at K 2019. Around 30% recycled material is used in the production of PP cups. For this practical example of a closed circular economy, Arburg cooperates with Erema, which provides recycled PP. In a cycle time of around four seconds, eight cups are produced on a hybrid Allrounder 1020 H. This new size machine in the company’s portfolio will be presented as a packaging version.

In the second circular economy application, a PCR material (post-consumer recyclate) derived from household waste is used to produce a technical product. The PCR available on the market is processed by an electrical two-component Allrounder 630 A in a Profoam foaming process, the second material is TPE. The injection-moulded part is a machine door handle whose two halves are mounted in the mould. This is followed by partial overmoulding with the soft component.

Launch: arburgGREENworld

These applications demonstrate Arburg's expertise in terms of circular economy and the conservation of resources. Numerous activities – both for customers as well as internally – have been bundled in the new “arburgGREENworld” programme, which rests on four pillars.

The first three pillars – "Green Machine", "Green Production" and "Green Services" – relate to offers for customers while the fourth pillar – "Green Environment” – includes Arburg's internal processes.