FIPA’s Latest Customized Application Solution: A Gripper with Thermalon® Vacuum Cups for Rapid Demolding of Injection Molded Parts from an 8-cavity Mold
Tasked with creating a demolding gripper that would yield extremely fast cycle times to achieve a high output, FIPA developed a high-performance, cost-effective solution for German manufacturer Franke Kunststofftechnik GmbH & Co. KG.
Cary, N.C. (May 7, 2019) — FIPA Inc., a leading manufacturer of advanced vacuum technology, gripper systems, air nippers, and End-of-Arm-Tooling (EOAT), recently developed a customized gripper with Thermalon® bellows vacuum cups for the rapid demolding of injection molded parts. Presented with the challenge of creating a gripper for an injection molding machine that would yield extremely fast cycle times to achieve a high output, FIPA experts tailored several components of the company’s innovative, lightweight gripping systems to develop a successful, cost-effective solution.
The Task: Developing a Demolding Vacuum Gripper for Higher Throughput
In search of a device that would quickly and simulanteously remove and place eight battery covers from an injection molding machine, Franke Kunststofftechnik GmbH & Co. KG, a German manufacturer of injection molding tools for the plastics industry, approached FIPA with the application challenge. Using vacuum cups to remove injection molded parts is a difficult step in the process, because the vacuum cups must be resistant to high temperatures and, in many applications, they should not leave any marks on the material being demolded.
The Solution: A Customized Gripper with Thermalon® Vacuum Cups
“After thoroughly discussing and reviewing Franke’s technology application needs, we realized our Thermalon® vacuum cups would be an ideal solution for this particular project,” said Timo Bendrat, FIPA Sales Manager for Western Germany. “Our Thermalon® vacuum cups are comprised of a material optimized for the specific needs of the plastics industry, because it is heat-resistant up to 160°C (320°F) and low-marking.”
Combined with the vacuum cups, FIPA created a gripper that weighs less than 2.5kg, has a two-second removal time, and provides a cycle time of just 19.2 seconds from injection molding to placing, thus enabling a production throughput of up to one million parts per year. FIPA’s latest innovative gripper solution is also a first for Franke, who previously only used tools for demolding parts from 4-cavity molds.
“It was an absolute pleasure to work with FIPA, who responded quickly to our inquiry, worked diligently to ensure that this project ran smoothly, and was managed in a timely fashion,” said Niklas Franke, who is responsible for application technology at Franke Kunststofftechnik GmbH & Co. KG. “The result was a highly effective, and cost-sensitive solution that successfully met our application technology requirements.”
For more information about the plastics application, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG099iSZfmM to watch a short video about the customized gripper in action. For more information about FIPA’s customized gripper assembly technology, please visit:https://www.fipa.com/us/fipa-gripper-assembly/. For all other inquiries, please visit http://www.fipa.com, call 919-651-9888, or write to 1855 Evans Road, Cary, NC 27513.
About Franke Kunststofftechnik GmbH & Co. KG
Founded in 1989, Franke Kunststofftechnik GmbH & Co. KG has asserted itself in the rapidly growing plastics industry with a broad range of products and services relating to injection molding. Franke offers customers from the automotive, heating, solar, window, and electronics industries an efficient process chain that ranges from design to production. The German family business’ portfolio includes the development, design, simulation, prototyping, and production of injection molding tools, totaling up to 19 tons in weight. Franke has 15 state-of-the-art injection molding machines with claming forces ranging from 50 to 1,500 tons that produce thermoplastic parts.
About FIPA, Inc.
Founded in 2006 as a fully owned subsidiary of FIPA GmbH, FIPA Inc. is an international innovator and manufacturer of advanced vacuum technology, gripper systems, air nippers, and End-of-Arm-Tooling (EOAT) for automated assembly equipment and material handling systems. Spanning components to complete systems, FIPA’s products are broadly employed in applications ranging from packaging, automotive assembly, and manufacturing automation equipment to material handling systems designed to move plastics, metals, glass, wood products, and, for printing equipment, paper and films. FIPA also delivers flexible, dynamic solutions on short lead times, and provides superior service and technical support.
Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Ismaning, Germany, FIPA GmbH has steadily expanded its global presence in recent years, adding representations in the United States, Thailand, Hungary, and China. For more information about FIPA’s products, services, and news,please visit http://www.fipa.com.
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FIPA Group
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