Plastics News - Show Daily - October 15, 2024 - 3

FAKUMA 2024
Plastics News, October 15, 2024 * 3
Engel sees
'indications
of a positive
trend' in 2025
By Karen Laird
Sustainable Plastics
For the manufacturers of plastics
machinery, the market seems
to be stuck in the proverbial rut.
Not only were incoming orders
down 16 percent in the fi rst half of
2024 compared with 2023, but also
the slump in demand has caused
the sales fi gures to plummet.
One of the words most commonly
heard to describe the situation
is " challenging. " A statement
recently released by the VDMA
Plastics and Rubber Machinery
Association quoted Chairman Ulrich
Reifenhäuser as saying: " We
still have to wait a little longer for
the turnaround. "
He added: " The weak demand is
affecting all markets equally, but
the European domestic market in
particular. Major markets such as
China and the U.S. are also weakening
considerably, although we
are witnessing individual glimmers
of hope at a lower level in
Mexico and India. "
With sales from January to
August down 7 percent on the
previous year, the association is
having to revise its forecast downward
for the current year, as the
lowest point in terms of incoming
orders has not yet been reached.
The association's managing director,
Thorsten Kühmann, said he
expects a 10-15 percent drop in
sales this year.
The recent interest rate cuts
will ultimately boost the capital
goods sector, but the lag in production
means it will take until
the middle of next year for the
positive impetus to be refl ected in
sales, he added.
It's an opinion shared by Stefan
Engleder, CEO at Engel Group.
Questioned by Sustainable Plastics
about how his company, a
major European manufacturer of
plastics processing machinery,
was faring under the current conditions,
he was frank: " For Engel,
2024 has been a challenging year,
as the plastics processing industry
continues to face a diffi cult
economic environment. The injection
molding sector remains
in a state of recession, with order
volumes declining over the past
two years. However, we anticipated
this downturn and have been
preparing for it. "
Next year is expected to bring
gradual recovery, with signs of a
slight economic upturn already
visible, he added.
" While we don't anticipate returning
to pre-crisis highs next year,
there are indications of a positive
trend. A sustained recovery is likely
to begin in the second quarter of
2025, " he said. " Engel is focused on
being prepared
for this upturn,
continuing to
invest in modernizing
our
facilities and
strengthening
our customer
partnerships
globally. "
Engleder
He noted
that there were
signs that the
economic situation
in Europe is stabilizing, albeit
slowly.
Engel, he said, is active in different
regions around the globe,
and elsewhere the situation is different.
Regions like the Americas
are experiencing positive growth,
particularly in technical molding
and the medical sector, driven by
high demand for autoinjectors.
" But by contrast, the
Asian
market is recovering more slowly,
with a focus on local solutions.
Our global presence allows us to
tailor our solutions to these diverse
markets, " he stressed.
Fakuma: An important
showcase
Going by the signs, Fakuma 2024
is opening to what promises to
be another successful edition. Although
the concept of an in-person
trade show may seem outdated,
reality proves otherwise. The buzz
created by the physical presence of
peers, customers and competitors
and the opportunity to meet, talk
and network provide an energy that
a virtual event cannot replicate.
For Engel, Engleder said, it's an
important show to attend, especially
now, in view of the significant
challenges the plastics industry
is continuing to face.
" These make it even more important
for Engel to showcase that
we are moving forward despite
the economic pressures. Our motto
here is 'get connected' - to
communicate that we are looking
forward to collaborating with customers
to develop tailored solutions
that ensure their competitiveness, "
he explained.
At Fakuma, Engel is demonstrating
how its precise and effi cient
machine solutions, like the new
e-mac 2440/500, can help customers
optimize their production, especially
in light of labor shortages
and rising energy costs.
The new, fully electric e-mac
500 injection molding machine,
with a clamping force of 5000 kN,
on display features a high-performance
clamping drive and the iQ
motion control digital assistant.
The machine is producing 4-liter
containers using in-mold
labeling, achieving faster
cycle times and reducing
energy consumption by
up to 30 percent compared
with hybrid or hydraulic
machines.
The company is also
showcasing the latest
generation of its Wintec
t-win machines, with
more than 20 new options,
including iQ clamp
control, which optimizes
clamping force to reduce
scrap, energy consumption
and tool wear, and
iQ hold control, which
adjusts holding time for
faster serial production.
Additional options, such
as proportional valves
for core pulls and servo
valves for injection, will
be available by the end of
2024. The t-win 5500-4900 will produce
battery box lids and back
panels from ABS.
Engel's innovations in automation
and digitalization, such
as integrated robots and digital
assistance systems offering comprehensive
monitoring,
control
and automatic process optimization
with real-time feedback, are
the company's answer to labor
shortages and rising energy costs.
The advantages range from a
streamlined production and error
reduction, to providing quick access
to crucial production data,
ensuring long-term competitiveness,
Engleder said. Key highlights
include the setup assistant and
the AI-powered Engel spare parts
app. An example can be seen at the
company's stand, where a tie-barless
victory 160 producing fi ttings
is demonstrating how the integrated
digital setup assistant aids operators
during tool changes, helping
to minimize errors and to boost
overall equipment effectiveness.
Given all the options available
on the injection
molding
machines
the company builds today,
SP asked, have those offerings affected
a customer's choice when
deciding to purchase a machine
or are there other factors that
come fi rst? And has that changed?
" Flexibility, adaptability and
the ability to meet regional needs
have become essential for our
customers, " Engleder said. " Engel's
global structure, with independent
hubs in Europe, the
Americas and Asia, allows us to
provide tailored solutions and
high-quality support locally.
" Additionally,
effi ciency,
cost-effectiveness and sustainability
have grown in importance,
as customers increasingly
seek technologies that enhance
ENGEL
A5-5203
Large-format
machinery from
Engel Group.
Engel Group's CC300
and CC300 plus
control systems
are expected to
be in demand from
customers needing
to operate with fewer
employees.
Engel Group photos
productivity while reducing environmental
impact. These priorities
have become even more
critical in recent years due to
rising energy costs and stricter
regulations, " he added.
Is all-electric on
the rise?
The focus on all-electric machines
at Fakuma is not a coincidence,
Engleder said. Continuous
interest in all-electric machines in
Europe is on the rise, largely driven
by increasing energy costs and the
demand for more energy-effi cient,
precise production technologies.
" All-electric machines like our
e-mac gain traction as they provide
signifi cant operational cost
savings, which is becoming a critical
factor for businesses navigating
today's challenging economic
landscape, " he responded.
Yet the most signifi cant trend
he has noticed in injection molding
over the past three years or
so has been the shift toward more
sustainable and energy-effi cient
solutions, driven by the need to
reduce costs and meet stricter environmental
regulations.
" Automation and digitization
are also playing a key role, with
customers seeking ways to enhance
fl exibility and production
output without increasing labor
costs, " he added.
The people problem
That's if they can fi nd the labor
they need. The dwindling number
of skilled workers and the dearth
of new entrants into the technical
profession are a challenge to
industry in general, and the plastics
industry in particular. Fueled
by the ongoing labor shortages,
demand for automation has continued
to rise, said Engleder, with
many businesses turning to automated
solutions to maintain productivity
and effi ciency.
" However, there is also a growing
gap in the skills needed to
operate these systems. Engel
addresses this by offering comprehensive
training and support,
enabling our customers to effectively
integrate automation without
needing specialized in-house
expertise, " he claimed.
Engleder pointed to the fully
integrated systems, such as the
Engel CC300, developed by the
company that simplifi es the process,
making it accessible even for
those with limited technical backgrounds.
This is a trend that seems
set to continue, enhanced by the
burgeoning developments around
artifi cial intelligence. It plays an integral
role in Engel's product and
process optimization.
" We use AI in systems like the
iQ process observer to ensure
optimal effi ciency and quality
control. Over the next fi ve years,
we expect AI to become even
more integrated, especially in enhancing
automation, minimizing
downtime and further improving
energy effi ciency. However, we
see digitalization and AI not as replacements
but as complements
to human expertise. Our approach
is based on the synergy between
human creativity and machine effi
ciency. This combination allows
us to solve existing challenges in
new ways while maintaining high
safety and effi ciency standards. AI
can help address labor shortages
by handling routine tasks and optimizing
processes - but human
experience remains irreplaceable, "
he concluded.
Plastics News - Show Daily - October 15, 2024

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