A premiere at K 2016: an inexpensive automation system by CBW
CBW Automation Inc. based in the U.S. (Fort Collins, CO) develops automation solutions for rapid injection molding, as well as systems for thermoform packaging. The company’s deep expertise and production resources led to creating a new automation system that is both highly performative and flexible while being cheaper than the market alternatives. The new series has been simply and accordingly baptized Advantage; its premiere is due at K show this autumn. The automation system will be on display as part of the advanced Milacron injection molding cell, well known by packagers.
An engineering assessment traditionally precedes any new project for CBW. This helps in tailoring the best possible solution for a specific customer and task. The latest product range of CBW includes the TS-303 featuring the quickest item removal from the mold, as the company claims; the space-saving TSE with high-speed item handling; and the SSE with strip stroke and high-speed handling. A wide range of downstream systems is also available from CBW.
The Advantage series follows the company’s longtime commitment to supplying efficient, high-performance, reliable systems with cost reduction and steady lead times, always being led by customer expectations.
Moreover, the new series is all about installation ease: it is supplied fully assembled and can go to production straight away. The system design is modular with standardized frame and base, allowing for fast switchovers and minimum downtimes. The available item removal options (strip stroke and others) can be enhanced by manufacturers with a desired injection molding technology such as in-mold labeling or stack molds.
A moving suction cup retrieval system that has replaced powerful vacuum blowers, making the machine more flexible. Thus, the need for the blower itself and for costly piping to the end-of-arm of the robot was eliminated.
No automation system by CBW comes off the shelf. Still, the lean manufacturing concept allows standardizing certain system parts in order to cut lead times. All the equipment supplied by CBW is U.S.-made.
