New e-max Perfect For Vanguard Plastics

Size, energy savings and customized production are features of ENGEL’s e-max injection molding machine that made it the perfect choice for Connecticut-based Vanguard Plastics Corp. The company recently completed installation of its first e-max 310/110 US, which joins 10 other ENGEL injection molding machines in a 20-machine facility.

There are many instances in which size truly does matter. For Southington, CT.-based Vanguard Plastics Corp., the size of their next injection molding machine was critical. The company’s choice was an e-max – the newest all-electric injection molding machine from ENGEL, a world leader in the design and manufacture of injection molding machines and part-handling automation systems.

“It was pretty tight in the building, and so the size of the machine was important,” explained a Vanguard representative. The company currently houses 20 injection molding machines – 10 of them ENGEL machines. Their most recent purchase was an all-electric 200 e-motion T machine. “ENGEL makes a great electric machine, so we knew we wanted the new, smaller electric machine, the e-max,” the representative said.

Vanguard specializes in custom injection molding using a wide range of materials, from polystyrene and polypropylene to aramide fiber-filled nylons and TPEs (thermoplastic elastomers). The company produces more than 300 products for the water filtration, automotive, construction and hardware industries.

“Vanguard has been working with ENGEL since the 1980s, and is an early adopter of electric technology for injection molding machines,” says ENGEL representative Shaun Bogan of Girioni Associates, Swansea, MA. “They are very happy with the e-motion machine, but they have been interested in the e-max for quite some time. I kept in touch with them about when it would be available.”

Introduced in North America in 2008, the ENGEL e-max offers the highest levels of performance, precision and flexibility in a cost-effective package that fits in a small industrial footprint. Available in sizes from 55 to 200 US tons and fitting in a space as small as 12ft x 4ft (for the 55 ton machine), the e-max is designed to ENGEL’s stringent quality and reliability standards.

The e-max features highly-integrated control and parallel drive technology for increased performance. The lubrication-free tie bars and enclosed belt drives make the e-max suitable for use in cleanroom operations. In addition, ENGEL’s e-max can reduce energy consumption by 60% compared to a hydraulic machine.

The Vanguard e-max installation features high-performance injection units with up to 450mm/sec. injection speed. Vanguard plans to add an automation package to the e-max in the future.

“We’ve been very pleased with the e-max since its installation,” the Vanguard representative said. “The e-max is proving to be 80% more efficient than our hydraulic machines, at least 10 to 15 decibels quieter than even some of our electric machines from 10 years ago. We’re very happy with its overall performance.”

ENGEL North America
From facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, ENGEL North America provides its customers a single source for design and manufacture of injection molding machines for thermoplastics and elastomers, a full range of plastics processing technology modules and a full scope of automation solutions. With eight production plants in Europe, North America and Asia (China, Korea), subsidiaries in 17 countries and representatives in over 70 countries, ENGEL North America provides its customers the global support they need to compete and succeed with new technologies and leading-edge production systems. For more information, visit www.engelglobal.com/na.