Multotec recently commissioned its largest injection moulder, an 850 t machine with a 9 kg shot weight. “The advantages of a machine this size are many,” Multotec’s Derrick Alston said. “A primary benefit is the increased speed to market it affords our products, while other advantages include being able to produce thicker and longer polyurethane screening panels, or multiple panels in the same mould. In the case of the thicker panels, in addition to a faster speed to market we can now achieve an even better quality product.”
“There is a particularly promising application for the thicker panels in trommels. These products were previously cast, but from now on we will be able to harness the injection moulding process to produce them more cost effectively and of a highly consistent quality.” Alston says the technology on which the new machine is based is state-of-the-art. A controller governs the parameters of the process to a higher level of control than has ever been possible, while a different type of clamping makes the machine’s footprint, at 12 m long by 2.5 m wide, a lot smaller than previous models.
“With this extended capacity and small footprint, we also have the opportunity to develop new polyurethane mining products that will allow us to enter entirely new market segments,” he adds. “With the technology we already have in-house, there is certainly potential to produce multiple products using this one machine. “The new machine significantly adds production capacity and operational flexibility to Multotec. This is sufficient capacity to more than satisfy the present demands of the South African market and give our customers confidence in our ability to supply their product requirements in full and on time. As demand increases in the future, we will extend our injection moulding capacity accordingly.”
The new injection moulder has replaced a 650 t, 6 kg shot weight machine previously in use at Multotec’s Spartan premises. This machine has already been relocated to the company’s Australian operation and commissioned by a South African team at its operation in Brisbane. Until now, the company’s polyurethane screens supplied to the Australian market were produced by local sub-contractors using Multotec “mother moulds”.
