Plastics News Show Daily - April 5, 2012 - (Page 57)

PLASTICS NEWS, April 5, 2012 57 Wrapping returns to NPE to expand By Jessica Holbrook PLASTICS NEWS STAFF ORLANDO, FLA. — After nearly a decade, Wrapping Machinery SA (Booth 7445) is returning to NPE and to the North American market. The Stabio, Switzerland-based thermoformer last attended NPE in 2003, before turning its focus to the European market, said Giovanni Morandi, area manager. Now, with new machines and a larger worldwide presence, WM is setting its sights on America. “We believe the time has arrived to challenge the market,” Morandi said. “We are here now because now we have all the necessities…to support the American market.” The company has two main reasons for expanding – a shrinking gap between the euro and the dollar, and a changing mentality in American manufacturing, he said. North American machines tend to be larger, because utility costs are lower and floor space isn’t often an issue, but now manufacturers are embracing the European model of small, rapid machinery, he said. The company also has the technology to monitor machines remotely, so an engineer in Switzerland can easily communicate with a client in California and diagnose machine issues, he said. “We don’t want to simply sell the machine and say ‘bye bye, it’s your problem now,’” he said, adding that WM has an agreement with a company in Chicago to handle North American clients. To mark its return, WM introduced its newest thermoforming line, a series of vacuum and pressure forming machines dubbed the FC Speedmaster Plus. The machines offer vacuum ‘We believe the time has arrived to challenge the market.’ Giovanni Morandi Wrapping Machinery SA and compressed air forming, inline punch and die and steel rule cutting, and vertical stacking units. Most of the Speedmaster machines are used for food packaging, like making trays or salad containers, but they can also be used to make blisterpacks and other sterile medical packaging, he said. The machines are designed to be easy to use and have low maintenance costs, Morandi said. They are fully customizable, and by making small changes, the new machines have the pontential to lower energy usage by 1 kW per hour. “We want our machines to pay attention to the human factor,” he said. RECHARGE at the PN Oxygen Bar BOOTH #5045 - West Hall Haumiller filling a niche market By Rhoda Miel PLASTICS NEWS STAFF ORLANDO, FLA. – High-speed production is a way of life at Haumiller Engineering Co. (Booth 46020) and as its customers work to get more out of a smaller manufacturing footprint, the custom assembly equipment company is seeing more demand for its services. “We’re in a niche market for very high volumes,” said David Wandrey, sales engineer. “We’re talking about products where they’re making 20 million parts per year.” The company is making its first appearance at an NPE show this year, responding to an increased demand for its assembly equipment serving a variety of brand name companies and their suppliers. Haumiller, an employee-owned company nearing its 50th anniversary, works with customers in both plastics and metal. For plastics firms, it specializes not only in high speed, but it is capable in handling warm molds shortly after they emerge from the press. “We know from our experience that using warm parts assembly helps companies achieve the efficiency they seek,” said Pat Philips, engineering manager. A warm part is more prone to warping and other damage if it is not handled correctly. Early in the design process for a custom assembly line, Haumiller must adjust for changes in size for a warm part compared to a cooled final assembly, Wandrey said. Haumiller’s specialty is continuous flow assembly operations. Unlike a typical post-mold assembly system, which uses a turntable that stops and starts to close molds, label, weld or complete other secondary operations, Haumiller keeps the products moving constantly. That system uses less energy – since there is no need for stopping and starting – and can fit into existing manufacturing space, he said.  http://www.frigel.com http://www.frigel.com http://www.brueckner.com http://www.brueckner.com

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