Pioneering in energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is not something that relates to a single machine, but rather to a whole product range. All the more the point is to perfect the various processing steps of injection moulding machines and their technical implementation. This is a strategic objective that Sumitomo (SHI) Demag, being a pioneer in this field, has been pursuing for more than ten years now. Today, the result is one of the most energy efficient machinery in the world.
Energy efficiency is a major issue of the uniform machine platform
The hydraulic, hybrid and all-electric injection moulding machines made by Sumitomo (SHI) Demag are all based on one single machine platform, which is consistently oriented at energy efficiency:
- Use of the toggle joint to save energy.
Toggle joint mechanisms require little oil and thus little energy to move the mobile mould clamping platen. Moreover, they do not require any energy to hold the mould clamping force. For larger machines, the toggle joint will save up to fifty percent -- of the energy required, and for smaller machines up to thirty percent -- respectively.
- Linear slide to reduce energy loss.
Consistent use of sophisticated linear slides, specifically in the area of the clamping unit, will result in more dynamic mould movement on the one hand, and in reduced friction and thus reduced energy consumption on the other hand.
- Use of drives of the highest efficiency class.
For hydraulic injection moulding machines, electrically adjustable control pumps of the DFEE model are used as a standard feature in combination with drive motors of the highest efficiency class. This brings about considerable energy savings as compared to conventional designs.
In terms of electrical drives, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag consistently and exclusively uses energy-efficient direct drives, and thus eliminates gearboxes that would reduce the level of efficiency. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is one of merely two manufacturers of injection moulding machines that can boast of having its own core competence for drive technology and that specifically develops and produces such drives for use in highly efficient injection moulding machines. Electrical direct drives have a very high level of efficiency as they do not use a gearbox, thus causing less friction and loss.
- Energy recuperation
The concept of energy recuperation was conceived and implemented as early as in the late 1990s, with the launch of the hybrid injection moulding machine El-Exis. Here, the principle is that, through the use of several frequency-controlled synchronous motors, the braking energy of one drive can be passed on to another drive via the inverter intermediate circuit. Thus, the braking energy will not be converted to heat or dissipated into the environment unused, but will be utilized right in the process instead. Thus, kinetic energy can be recuperated, specifically while the clamping unit is braking, and can be used for the energy-intensive step of plasticization. This concept of energy recuperation is used as a standard feature in the hybrid El-Exis and the all-electric IntElect models.