At Mattighofen, Austria-based GBM Kunststofftechnik und Formenbau GmbH, a newly installed Mitsubishi MV2400R Connect is making a genuine difference to this forward-thinking mould shop. Mitsubishi EDM machines are available in the UK from HK Technologies.

In total, some 35 injection moulding machines can be found in the halls of GBM. Be it parts for cars, medical devices or telecommunications equipment, there is very little that GBM cannot mould in plastic.
“Among the areas that is currently developing very strongly is vehicle charging equipment,” reveals managing director Roland Barth. “Extremely complex shapes are created for this, to produce wall boxes for example.”
As a result, the company recently purchased a Mitsubishi MV2400R Connect with travels of 600 x 400 x 310 mm in X, Y and Z, which is being used almost exclusively to produce injection moulds. In addition to machine’s fast cutting speed, the quality of the surfaces is an important factor for the Austrian firm.
“For us, the investment was important so that we could produce moulds faster than ever before, with surfaces that do not have to be reworked,” says Barth. “We want to continue growing and the machine will support us in our efforts.”
Barth deliberately opted for a larger machine, which is also equipped with the new D-CUBES interface. “Here I see a lot of potential for exploiting totally new possibilities in the future, particularly when producing moulds for our injection machines.”
For further information www.mitsubishi-edm.de/en

Erowa’s recently enhanced LoadMaster range, which is available in the UK from REM Systems, builds on the ability to offer the automatic loading and unloading of workpieces up to 4000 kg.

Equipped with a 360° swivel function, any position in the magazine and on the machine tool table can be reliably reached. According to the company, customers equipped with an Erowa system can typically increase productivity by a factor of five using various manufacturing technologies, including die-sink EDM.
Raw material billets, part-machined components and cast workpieces can be transferred using LoadMaster thanks to its novel kinetic system with very limited space requirement. The magazines are designed to stack vertically, with the storage positions arranged over two, three or four levels, saving on floor space and subsequently cost. Each level is optimally configured for typical workpiece sizes.
REM Systems’ managing director Ian Holbeche says: “The new LoadMaster allows manufacturing businesses that produce larger, and therefore heavier components, to increase their productivity. Typically, this might be large press-tool plates, multi-cavity injection moulds, valves and pipe fittings, as well as structural and propulsion components for aircraft.”
Operator set-up stations are integral components of LoadMaster production lines, with access via sliding doors or walk-in stations. Versions are available featuring lifting units, with rotating and tilting table, or with indexing table. The set-up positions are also accessible via overhead crane.
Erowa’s overall process control system assists the operator in the daily production flow, with clear displays of system status. Notably, the transfer unit moves between the magazines and machines on solid rails, while the grippers optimally support various application scenarios: ‘TwinFork’ double grippers for faster chip-to-chip times or ‘MultiFork’ end effector for the loading and unloading of different pallet sizes.
For further information https://remsystems.co.uk/