Smart Molding International 4-2021

machinery S umitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH, Schwaig, exhibited a small version of its El-Exis SP 250 packagingmachine series to Fakuma 2021. Available worldwide, the El Exis SP range, now comprises ten machines, with a clamping force range of 150 to 1,000 tons. At the trade fair in Friedrichshafen, a cup application, made from a ISCC Plus-certified poly - propylene material, was impressively demonstrating the high speed, user- friendliness, sustainabillity and dura - bility of this hybrid machine. "The opening and closing sides of our machine are the fastest on the market," explains Arnaud Nomblot, Business Development Director, Pack - aging. “Achieving injection speeds of 1,000 mm/s with short cycle times is a direct result of the hydraulic accumu - lator. Further supporting the sustain - ability agenda, processors can produce ever thinner and lighter packaging items, significantly reducing rawmate - rial requirements, packaging waste and carbon footprint”, notes Nomblot. Revealing Act! "Sustainably" benefits Unveiling the company’s new trade fair slogan Act! "Sustainably", the El-Exis SP series underpins Sumitomo (SHI) Demag‘s efforts and future pro - duction innovations. Integrated firmly into the company’s mission statement, only machines and equipment that are compatible with these ecological and corporate social responsibility creden - tials will be considered for production projects moving forward. Examining the key post-pandemic packaging trends, Nomblot highlights that environmental compatibility and multi-purpose capability are now the most important decision factors for packaging moulders, along with price of “green” packaging and how prod - uct quality is perceived. Additionally, with the introduction of the EU Pack - aging Levy on non-recycled packaging waste within EUMember States, a shift towards more sustainable and single material packaging is inevitable. “Thanks to our diversified machine portfolio and our high performance machines, we are in the position to meet all requirements and are there - fore involved in nearly all new pack - aging projects,” verifies the packaging expert. Measured against competing technologies, not only is the El-Exis SP’s processing cycle time significantly shorter, the hybrid design also offers discernable energy efficiency advan - tages, Nomblot confirms. Accelerating circular agenda At Fakuma, the El-Exis SP 250 dem - onstration was showcasing the efficient production of four decorated cups every 5.5 seconds in collaborationwith Société Nouvelle Caulonque, Soustons (France), supplier of the four-cavity mould tool. Feeding labels with precision into the packaging machine is an automated Spark IML system from Pagès Group, Foncine-le-Haut (France), with iPB Printing B.V., Reusel (Netherlands) sup - plying the high quality labels. Leader in recyclable materials Borealis, Vienna (Austria) supplied its BJ368MO PP co - polymer for the trade fair application. For optimum efficiency, the El-Exis SP 250 at the booth featured Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s web-based "myConnect" software solution. Giving customers di - rect access to a wide range of fully net - worked support services, the central platform assists packaging production managers to better manage inefficien - cies, reduce costs, improve total cost of ownership, troubleshoot errors and minimisemachinedowntime. "Withmy - Connect, customers can instantly access machine documentation online. Addition - ally, our helpdesk ex - perts can remotely access the machine and provide valuable troubleshooting support," com - ments Nomblot. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag www.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu Sumitomo (SHI) Demag presented El-Exis SP 250 at Fakuma 2021. The fastest packaging machine on the market can produce ever thinner and lighter packaging items, significantly reducing raw material requirements, packaging waste and carbon footprint. 22 Picture: Sumitomo (SHI) Demag High-speed rotor achieves greater packaging sustainability smart_molding international 4/2021