Smart Molding International 2-2023

32 smart_molding international 2/2023 machinery The common goal: more sustainability From automotive through aviation to urban mobility, industry experts and visionaries were discussing challenges and trends, new market opportunities and technological possibilities at the ENGEL Mobility Days 2023 – supported by KTM Technologies – in Austria in mid-June. The two-day event with top ranking keynote speakers and future-oriented machine exhibits combined and expanded the previous ENGEL conferences trend.scaut and Lightweight Future Day to create a new networking event. "L et's spend two days com- pletely rethinking mobility," said host Dr. Stefan Engleder, CEO of the ENGEL Group, welcoming the more than 500 guests to the De - sign Center in Linz at the start of the ENGEL Mobility Days 2023. Mobility is becoming increasingly diverse and this is not only reflected in the list of participants but also in the conference programme. The keynotes covered in- dividual transport by car, (motor)bike or e-scooter, but also public transport by bus, train, people mover or air cab, as well as aerospace and logistics mo- bility solutions from the classic truck to drones. There is one thing which unites all sectors of mobility, and that is mak- ing mobility more sustainable. Whether new drivetrain solutions or autonomous driving, these trends are fundamentally changing the demands on mobility, requiring completely novel material and manufacturing solutions in some cases. This gives rise to huge opportunities for the injection moulding industry. "Plastics will play an even more significant role in future mobility than they do today", as Franz Füreder, Business Unit Vice President Automotive & Mobility at ENGEL was quick to point out. "Polymer materials are lightweight materials in themselves, and they allow for conservative use of energy and raw materials. They can be processed in a very efficient way in injection moulding, and this makes innovative technologies accessible to the mass market." The ENGEL Mobility Days 2023 showcased numerous examples of this. Autonomous driving promotes the use of plastics Michael Fischer, Head of Business Development Technology at ENGEL, highlighted another advantage of the material group: "Plastics are permeable to sound waves and electromagnetic radiation, and this makes them indispensable for autonomous driving." Autonomous driving is all about connectivity, communication between the vehicles themselves, and with other public and private transport users and the environment. The sensors used for this purpose rely on electromagnetic and acoustic approaches. Distance sensors, for example, work with ultrasound, while adaptive cruise control works with radar, and night vision assistance systems with infrared.