Ambiente Plasticos
Plastics News
Southwest Ohio area high school seniors experience the first manufacturing ops technical school program of its kind in Ohio.
[BATAVIA, OH] August 15, 2024 – It’s back-to-school season and Cincinnati-based Milacron has reason to celebrate! A leading manufacturer of plastics technology and processing, Milacron has joined forces with Grant Career Center for the second academic year on their Advanced Manufacturing Academy (AMA), a program that provides area high school seniors with comprehensive training in advanced manufacturing.
This marks the second academic year Milacron and Grant have joined forces to bring the AMA to Clermont County. This past Spring, the 2024 class graduated 14 area seniors, four of which were hired immediately at Milacron’s global headquarters facility in Batavia.
This unique program, located at the technical school in Bethel, is specifically designed to create an employee pipeline, offering students the opportunity to secure future employment in advanced manufacturing, without the need for them to leave their school campus their senior year. According to the Clermont Country Chamber of Commerce, no other technical school in the state of Ohio has an in-house company-sponsored program of this kind.
By integrating classroom instruction with live training on industry equipment, the work-based learning experience equips students with the technical expertise and industry-specific competencies to jumpstart their success in the field of manufacturing, specifically plastics processing. Grant students follow a curriculum in their core program of study, core studies requirements for graduation, as well as AMA manufacturing-based classwork that includes hands-on lab.
“The recent AMA Grant graduates that were immediately brought on board with Milacron this past Spring are thriving,” said Jodi Wittmann, Senior Human Resources Director. “They were able to come onboard within our manufacturing plant operations and hit the ground running!”
Both Milacron and Grant are eager to kick off the upcoming school year this week with not only a new instructor that brings nearly 30 years of manufacturing experience (11 years with Milacron), but also more hands-on-training built into the curriculum with an additional injection molding machine being added to the lab space at the school that already houses a Milacron all-purpose Q-Series plastics processing machine.
“The addition of an all-electric Roboshot to our AMA lab space delivers greater depth to our students’ manufacturing experience,” said Mike Parry, Superintendent for Grant Career Center. “This machine platform is widely used in the medical molding industry for small-part plastics, like Covid test kits, syringes, and vials. The machine addition opens up a whole new world for our Advanced Manufacturing students to explore as they build their portfolio before entering the workforce.”
Although the original Q-Series injection molding machine was donated to the program as a part of the initial curriculum through Milacron, Parry explains that through additional grant money from the state of Ohio that the school was awarded earlier in the calendar year, the purchase of an additional machine for the AMA lab space was necessary to continue to expand upon the interest level they received in the manufacturing space. “The trend to learn a skilled trade is on the upward swing again, and up until two years ago, we had nothing to offer in the manufacturing space,” he said. “We hope to graduate even more students in 2025 than can dive straight into a successful career at Milacron.”
The company has a legacy in the Greater Cincinnati area of being a lifelong employer. Between its Batavia headquarters facility and the Mount Orab manufacturing site, the plastics processing solutions leader employs nearly 1,000 associates in the Tristate area that range from construction and welding tradespeople to machining experts and engineers. Many of these employees are approaching retirement, some after upwards of 40 or even 50 years of service to the company. The AMA at Grant is just one example of how Milacron has adopted non-traditional initiatives to help offset gaps with qualified skilled labor.
“Our purpose at Milacron, to shape what matters for tomorrow, is executed with intention through our Grant Career Center partnership,” said Mac Jones, President of Milacron. “AMA students are the Milacron employees that will shape our plastics processing of the future.”
Milacron’s partnership with Grant commenced nearly a decade ago with the goal of educating area students in manufacturing and the trades through plant tours at the company, job shadowing opportunities, and much more. Then, in late 2022 the opportunity to advance their partnership through a yearlong capstone project for the 2023/2024 academic year was agreed upon when the program/lab space became vacant. Given the importance of critical skilled workforce experience in the trade industry and manufacturing more specifically, Milacron moved swiftly to get the necessary specifics for the program in place in 2023. That transformation continues for the 2024/2025 academic school year.
About Milacron
Milacron (www.milacron.com) is a global industry and technology leader in the manufacturing of injection molding and extrusion systems. Milacron also produces and provides machinery, auxiliaries, and components that complement its plastics processing machines and systems. The company’s 1,900 associates worldwide collaborate to provide a diverse range of products across various plastics applications in industries such as automotive, construction, medical, telecommunications, material handling, packaging, and much more. Milacron holds longstanding relationships with more than 27,000 global customers across North America and India, as well as coverage in Europe and in many emerging markets, including Central/South America. Milacron is an Operating Company of Hillenbrand (NYSE: HI), an industrial company operating in over 100 countries serving a wide variety of industries across the world. www.hillenbrand.com
About Grant Career Center
Grant Career Center, located in Bethel, Ohio, is a leading educational institution that prepares students for success in the workforce and for further education in college. With a rich history of over 50 years, Grant Career Center has been providing high-quality training to students from Clermont County. Grant Career Center takes pride in its innovative partnerships with prominent organizations such as Milacron, Child-Focus, University of Cincinnati, and the Brown Clermont Adult Career Campus. These partnerships provide students with unique opportunities for hands-on learning, internships, and real-world experience in their chosen fields. By combining academic rigor with practical skills training, Grant Career Center equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for success in today’s ever-changing job market. Graduates of Grant Career Center are well-prepared for both immediate employment and continued education at the college level. Grant Career Center is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students can thrive academically, professionally, and personally. Through its comprehensive programs, partnerships, and dedication to excellence, Grant Career Center continues to shape the future of Clermont County’s workforce. Grant Career Center, where Clermont County’s Students “Choose to be Great!” www.grantcareer.com.
CONTACT
Melanie Murray, Communications Specialist
[email protected] / 513.300.6020
Two-platen, servo-hydraulic IMMs offer high productivity, quick commissioning at a lower price point.
[BATAVIA, OH] August 8, 2024 – Milacron marks a new milestone in the Latin America region with the introduction of two new injection molding machine platforms tailored for mass-production processors on the hunt for the often-elusive combination of quality, value, and quick commissioning all in the same package.
The two-platen machines impress with clamping forces ranging from 450 tons to 4,000 tons, demonstrating flexibility for a wide range of applications, while also appealing to the broader economic range of processors in this region, where plastics processing is escalating exponentially.
The A-Series (1,300 to 4,000 metric tons) expands upon Milacron’s leading big machine technology to exceed the demands of global automotive, appliance, pallet, and other large molded parts, while the K-Series (550 to 1,000 metric tons) appeals to mid-tonnage custom processors in storage and transport containers, household furniture, material handling, and more.
Both platforms are powered and driven by a servo motor power pack, offering high productivity, industry-leading reliability, and low energy consumption. Popular for both single-component and multi-use configuration injection molding applications, the specifications and performance of the two platforms offer improved versatility, higher max mold weights, faster clamp speeds, and a highly desired compact footprint.
Milacron’s Director, Global Business Development, Fadi Abdal, explains that the company’s new A- and K-Series platforms check many processors’ boxes in a region of the world that is currently experiencing a surge in large-part plastics, like automotive and industrial, while also juggling the need to offer valuable performance options that are more energy-efficient, as compared to previous models.
“With superior production quality, enhanced energy efficiency compared to conventional hydraulics, and a commitment to sustainable production, our machines are propelling the injection molding industry in this region towards industrial intelligence,” he said. “Our new machines for the Latin American market are developed at entry-level value but built for a performance market.”
Milacron’s global control platforms, MOSAIC+ and MOSAIC G3, ensure efficient and effective data collection and report generation, as well as integration with automation controls to further simplify the process. The ergonomic touch-screen versatility gives the operator simultaneous views of multiple machine functions and related equipment, such as hot runner control and remote-mounted IP cameras.
In addition, both platforms come equipped with M-Powered, Milacron’s Industry 4.0 digital solution for end-to-end monitoring and protection, for free for the first 12 months of ownership. M-Powered leverages the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology and runs sophisticated algorithms that utilize real-time machine learning to monitor machine operations, alerting before potential issues arise and providing a clearer picture of overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
Manufactured alongside other global Milacron products, like the C- and M-Series counterparts, the A- and K-Series platforms maintain the same level of engineering, quality manufacturing, reliability, and sourcing that customers around the globe have come to know when they put their trust in Milacron.
About Milacron
Milacron (www.milacron.com) is a global industry and technology leader in the manufacture of injection molding and extrusion systems. Milacron also manufactures and supplies machines, auxiliaries and components that complement its plastics processing machines and systems. The company’s 1,900 employees worldwide collaborate to provide a wide range of products for various plastics applications in industries such as automotive, construction, medical, telecommunications, material handling, packaging and many more. Milacron has long-standing relationships with more than 27,000 global customers in North America and India, as well as in Europe and many emerging markets, including Central and South America. Milacron is an operating company of Hillenbrand Inc, an industrial company operating in over 100 countries and serving a variety of industries around the world. www.hillenbrand.com
CONTACT
Fadi Abdal, Global Business Development Director
[email protected]
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MILACRON® LANZA NUEVAS PLATAFORMAS DE MÁQUINA DE RENDIMIENTO DE VALOR EN EL MERCADO DE AMÉRICA LATINA PARA CUMPLIR CON LA DEMANDA QUE SUCEDE
Los IMM servohidráulicos de dos placas ofrecen alta productividad, confiabilidad y puesta en marcha rápida a un precio más bajo.
Milacron marca un nuevo hito en la región de América Latina con la introducción de dos nuevas plataformas de máquinas de moldeo por inyección adaptadas para procesadores de producción en masa en la búsqueda de la combinación a menudo esquiva de calidad, valor y puesta en marcha rápida, todo en el mismo paquete.
Las máquinas de dos placas impresionan con fuerzas de sujeción que van de 450 a 4000 toneladas, lo que demuestra flexibilidad para una amplia gama de aplicaciones, al tiempo que atrae a la gama económica más amplia de procesadores en esta región, donde el procesamiento de plásticos se está intensificando exponencialmente.
La serie A (de 1300 a 4000 toneladas métricas) amplía la tecnología líder de Milacron en máquinas grandes para superar las demandas globales de automóviles, electrodomésticos, palés y otras piezas moldeadas grandes, mientras que la serie K (de 550 a 1000 toneladas métricas) atrae a procesadores personalizados de medio tonelaje en contenedores de almacenamiento y transporte, muebles domésticos, manipulación de materiales y más.
Ambas plataformas están impulsadas y accionadas por una unidad de alimentación de servomotor, que ofrece alta productividad, confiabilidad líder en la industria y bajo consumo de energía. Popular tanto para aplicaciones de moldeo por inyección de configuración de un solo componente como de múltiples usos, las especificaciones y el rendimiento de las dos plataformas ofrecen mayor versatilidad, pesos máximos del molde más altos, velocidades de sujeción más rápidas y una huella compacta muy deseada.
Fadi Abdal, director de Desarrollo Comercial Global de Milacron, explica que las nuevas plataformas de las series A y K de la compañía marcan las casillas de muchos procesadores en una región del mundo que actualmente está experimentando un aumento en plásticos de piezas grandes, como automotriz e industrial, mientras que también hace malabares con la necesidad de ofrecer opciones de rendimiento valiosas que sean más eficientes energéticamente, en comparación con modelos anteriores.
“Con una calidad de producción superior, una eficiencia energética mejorada en comparación con el sistema hidráulico convencional y un compromiso con la producción sostenible, nuestras máquinas están impulsando a la industria del moldeo por inyección en esta región hacia la inteligencia industrial”, dijo. “Nuestras nuevas máquinas para el mercado latinoamericano se desarrollan a un valor básico, pero se construyen para un mercado de rendimiento”.
Las plataformas de control global de Milacron, MOSAIC+ y MOSAIC G3, garantizan una recopilación de datos y generación de informes eficientes y eficaces, así como la integración con controles de automatización para simplificar aún más el proceso. La versatilidad ergonómica de la pantalla táctil brinda al operador vistas simultáneas de múltiples funciones de la máquina y equipos relacionados, como el control de colada caliente y las cámaras IP montadas a distancia.
Además, ambas plataformas vienen equipadas con M-Powered, la solución digital Industry 4.0 de Milacron para monitoreo y protección de extremo a extremo, de forma gratuita durante los primeros 12 meses de propiedad. M-Powered aprovecha la tecnología de Internet Industrial de las Cosas (IIoT) y ejecuta algoritmos sofisticados que utilizan aprendizaje automático en tiempo real para monitorear las operaciones de la máquina, alertando antes de que surjan posibles problemas y proporcionando una imagen más clara de la efectividad general del equipo (OEE).
Fabricados junto con otros productos globales de Milacron, como los homólogos de las series C y M, las plataformas de las series A y K mantienen el mismo nivel de ingeniería, fabricación de calidad, confiabilidad y abastecimiento que los clientes de todo el mundo han llegado a saber cuando confían en Milacron.
Acerca de Milacron
Milacron (www.milacron.com) es líder mundial en la industria y tecnología en la fabricación de sistemas de extrusión y moldeo por inyección. Milacron también fabrica y suministra máquinas, auxiliares y componentes que complementan sus máquinas y sistemas de procesamiento de plásticos. Los 1900 empleados de la compañía en todo el mundo colaboran para proporcionar una amplia gama de productos para diversas aplicaciones de plástico en industrias como la automotriz, la construcción, la médica, las telecomunicaciones, la manipulación de materiales, el embalaje y muchas más. Milacron tiene relaciones de larga data con más de 27 000 clientes globales en América del Norte e India, así como en Europa y muchos mercados emergentes, incluidas América Central y América del Sur. Milacron es una compañía operadora de Hillenbrand Inc, una compañía industrial que opera en más de 100 países y presta servicios a una variedad de industrias en todo el mundo. www.hillenbrand.com
From U.S. Navy sailor to Milacron subject matter expert.
If you ask Field Service Technician, Chelsie Lucas, what led her to Milacron, the answer might come as a surprise.
Over the course of the past two years, Lucas has transformed her career from a diesel mechanic with little to no understanding of plastics processing, to a subject matter expert in her craft – Milacron M-Powered field support.
Born in North Carolina, but raised in West Virginia, Lucas considers the Mountain State her home. She entered the United States Navy immediately after high school where the foundation of her career was laid as an Engineman on some of the nation’s largest ships. She traveled the world visiting Australia, Guam, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines over the course of five years, gaining transferable knowledge in everything from engine mechanics, blueprinting, and hydraulics to pneumatics, fuel systems, and auxiliaries. It was during these formative years serving that Lucas also learned valuable life lessons that have helped pave the way for her today at Milacron.
“One of the most important things the U.S. Navy taught me is that you have to work hard for what you want in this life,” she said. “Hard work will take you farther than talent.”
No truer words could define her journey.
Upon completion of her military enlistment, Lucas obtained employment in a San Diego shipyard. Here, she worked on everything from the hull of the ship to the bridge as an Outside Machinist. The days weren’t always easy in the shipyard, as oftentimes the transition from military back to civilian life can bring unexpected challenges, but she persevered.
After four years in California, life then took Lucas to New Mexico where she spent two years in heavy truck repair, where she performed troubleshooting on semi-trucks, tractors, and other vehicles. It was a job that required a whole lot of grit and tenacity but also added to her skill set in mechanics. But, it didn’t take her long to realize it was time to head back to her roots.
Before packing up her life to head home, Lucas put her resume online in search of engine room work on the barges that travel up and down the rivers of West Virginia. Seeing as though she spent five years on the water, this would blend a familiar mix of home and Navy. Oddly enough, that’s when plastics processing became a part of her story.
“I submitted my resume on a few well-known job sites with the keywords ‘diesel mechanic’ and ‘West Virginia’, and Milacron in Cincinnati found me first!”
Hired in as a Field Service Apprentice for Milacron’s exclusive Courtesy Plus maintenance program handling inspections, before transitioning to M-Powered – Milacron’s IIoT solution for injection and extrusion machines. Lucas knew she had her work cut out for her, but she was ready for the challenge. She knew nothing about plastics processing but had always wanted to be a field service technician of some sort. The notion of being able to travel to different facilities, troubleshoot problems, and interact with customers was appealing, but the industry was foreign.
“I didn’t know anything about the industry when I took the role with Milacron, but I knew I wanted to learn it, so I took the leap,” said Lucas, who attributes another valuable life lesson learned in the Navy to providing her the courage to trust the opportunity presented and run with it!
“The Navy taught me to never stop learning – to never restrict myself to just one avenue in this life,” she said. “I always say ‘YES’ to every opportunity to learn something new!”
Senior Product Manager for M-Powered, Dan Barlow, has witnessed the admirable growth of Lucas from apprentice to hands-on field service technician in just a little more than a year. “Chelsie took on M-Powered blindly upon her arrival, and today can cross-functionally communicate about it to nearly anyone in our industry that she comes in contact with,” he explains. “From other field service technicians to plant managers to professionals in the office environment of our business, I can trust that when we send her out on an install or to troubleshoot, she’ll get the job done well and keep our customers happy.”
Barlow oversees all aspects of M-Powered, a critical cog within Milacron’s growth strategy of transitioning from equipment provider to solutions partner for its customers. He ensures the solution provides effective production monitoring, predictive analytics, and remote technical support for all subscribing customers.
Today, all new Milacron machines come equipped with M-Powered monitoring for the first twelve months of ownership. Lucas assists Dan and the rest of the M-Powered team with the heavy lift that comes from existing customers who want to integrate the solution onto their older machines, which requires hardware setup and configurations. She also conducts troubleshooting both remotely and onsite (when necessary), as well as assists other field service technicians with wiring and installs.
Barlow said her willingness to jump right in wherever needed has greatly impacted Milacron M-Powered customers, citing her recent initiative to engineer an innovative mounting apparatus for vibration sensors- a critical part of the predictive analytics package for M-Powered that forecasts the lifespan of a part and/or failures. Some existing machines do not have a suitable place to attach the sensors that feed machine information into M-Powered. Thanks to Lucas’ ingenuity, there is now a solution to hold the pump sensors in place to gain the most accurate data.
“I admire her ability to overcome obstacles placed in her path and propose effective solutions,” said Barlow. “Chelsie is the epitome of a woman breaking the mold in our industry,” he said.
Lucas says she’s thankful Milacron gave her a chance to pave the way in a traditionally male-dominated industry, of which she had very little expert knowledge. Her advice to females considering a career in plastics processing is to not ever be afraid to try something new. “You never know what you’re capable of until you try.”
After her first few months in the Field Service Technician role that required Lucas to commute for more than a year between West Virginia, customer plants, and Milacron global headquarters in Ohio, Lucas decided it might be best to move a few hours northwest to a suburb of Cincinnati. She recently purchased her first home with her boyfriend and is settling into life in Southwest Ohio. She now even has her own office space right above the plant where she first learned about Milacron’s Courtesy Plus and M-Powered just two years ago.
“For the first time in a long time, I finally feel settled.”
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puts her best foot forward for Milacron.
A critical component of Milacron’s business strategy is our customer-first mentality that reinforces continuous innovation to meet the rising global demand for injection molding machines. To stay ahead of the curve, our global businesses continue to develop multifaceted ways to satisfy even the most complex business needs of our customers.
Guatemalan-based customer, Grupo Comeca, has not only discovered savings but better utility in its packaging operations business segment through a new Milacron IMM platform recently launched in the Latin American market.
With more than 45 years serving a wide range of manufacturing needs for international customers all over the globe, Grupo Comeca has turned to Milacron for several decades to provide not only industrial pails for paints and oils but crates for the agriculture and beverage industries. The company’s geographic presence spans across nine countries from Canada to Argentina, where it supplies crates and pails to a host of well-known global consumer and B2B corporations.
According to the company’s Plant Manager for Container Corporation of Grupo Comeca, Eduardo Castillo, the company first turned to Milacron in 1994 for its plastics processing needs as the company expanded beyond tin containers. “That very first Milacron machine is still in full operation for us in Costa Rica today!” he said, also noting that the company’s Colombia facility has Milacron machines in addition to another five in Guatemala.
Earlier this year Grupo Comeca purchased a new large-tonnage machine that’s one of two new platforms Milacron now offers exclusive to the Latin American region. The K-Series was designed for single-component and multi-use configuration injection molding applications that require high-quality, consistent results in a more compact footprint, at a lower initial investment level.
Developed for regions with rapidly growing industrial needs, the Milacron K-Series is ideal for customers who may be looking for an IMM that delivers performance value and quick commissioning. The two-platen servo hydraulic platform delivers high productivity and low energy consumption, which is also appealing to a wide variety of processors.
According to Castillo, Grupo Comeca has experienced a 20% reduction in cycle time with its new Milacron machine and an increase in production capacity. “We can now produce a pail in a very fast cycle, compared to the past,” he said. “This speed had not been possible with other machines that we have with other brands.”
In addition, their new K-Series takes up far less space in their manufacturing facility. He said Grupo Comeca’s new 800-ton K-Series is next to another 650-ton machine and it takes up the same length. “Space is critical to us, yet so is production. A machine with a more compact footprint that is also more powerful allows us to produce more parts in a more contained area.”
Milacron’s Director, Global Business Development, Fadi Abdal, explains that the company’s new A- and K-Series platforms check many processors’ boxes in a region of the world that is currently experiencing a surge in large-part plastics, like automotive and industrial, while also juggling the need to offer valuable performance options to customers, as well as being mindful of their carbon footprint.
“With superior production quality, enhanced energy efficiency compared to conventional hydraulics, and a commitment to sustainable production, our machines are propelling the injection molding industry in this region towards industrial intelligence,” he said. “Our new machines for the Latin American market are developed at entry-level value but built for a performance market. We truly partner with our customers throughout the lifecycle of their operations to achieve their business goals.”
Grupo Comeca’s manufacturing operations run shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week from July through Christmas, and five days a week (Monday through Friday) the first half of the year. It’s a stable operation with many moving parts that rely on industry-leading injection molding machines that are engineered for performance, versatility, and reliability.
According to Castillo, the region will not be slowing down anytime soon, and they are equipped to handle the surge, thanks to this partnership. “The growth potential of the plastics processing industry in Latin America remains very positive.” He said the company’s container segment has grown in upwards of 175 percent since 2014, and Milacron has been alongside them every step of the way.
“We have experienced innovation with Milacron over the years that has helped us grow with reliable machines at an affordable price,” he said. “Not only have we improved our cycles about 20 percent in recent years, but we have reduced our costs, and are now producing better products than ever before for our customers.”
The future of the collaboration between the two companies looks very promising, he said. As Grupo Comeca’s footprint expands in response to customer demand, the processor will continue to rely on Milacron for solutions, technology, and service as its leading partner in plastics.
“Grupo Comeca has big expansion plans with serious investment projections in the plastics business. We can only hit our targets with partnering brands that we can trust, and Milacron is for sure one of them,” Castillo said.
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Abiertos a Las Nuevas Posibilidades: Grupo Comeca
Las aplicaciones de moldeo por inyección de Milacron continúan expandiéndose en toda América Latina a través de nuevas plataformas.
Un componente crítico de la estrategia comercial de Milacron es nuestra mentalidad de priorizar al cliente que refuerza la innovación continua para satisfacer la creciente demanda global de máquinas de moldeo por inyección. Para mantenerse a la vanguardia, nuestros negocios globales continúan desarrollando formas multifacéticas de satisfacer incluso las necesidades comerciales más complejas de nuestros clientes.
El cliente guatemalteco, Grupo Comeca, no solo ha descubierto ahorros, sino también una mejor utilidad en su segmento de negocios de operaciones de empaque a través de una nueva plataforma Milacron IMM lanzada recientemente en el mercado latinoamericano.
Con más de 45 años atendiendo una amplia gama de necesidades de fabricación para clientes internacionales en todo el mundo, Grupo Comeca ha recurrido a Milacron durante varias décadas para proporcionar no solo cubetas industriales para pinturas y aceites, sino también cajones para las industrias agrícolas y de bebidas. La presencia geográfica de la compañía abarca nueve países de América Latina desde México hasta Argentina, en donde suministra cajones y cubetas a una gran cantidad de reconocidos consumidores globales y corporaciones B2B.
Según Eduardo Castillo, Gerente de Planta de Container Corporation de Grupo Comeca, la compañía recurrió por primera vez a Milacron en 1994 para sus necesidades de procesamiento de plásticos a medida que la compañía se expandía más allá de los contenedores de estaño. “¡Esa primera máquina Milacron aún está en pleno funcionamiento en nuestra planta de Costa Rica hoy en día!” dijo, también señalando que las instalaciones de la compañía en Colombia cuenta con máquinas Milacron además de otras cinco en la planta de Guatemala.
A principios de este año, Grupo Comeca compró una nueva máquina de gran tonelaje que es una de las dos nuevas plataformas que Milacron ofrece ahora exclusivamente para la región de América Latina. La serie K fue diseñada para aplicaciones de moldeo por inyección en configuración de un solo componente y multiuso que requieren resultados consistentes y de alta calidad, en un espacio más compacto, a un nivel de inversión inicial más bajo.
Desarrollada para regiones con necesidades industriales de rápido crecimiento, la serie K de Milacron es ideal para clientes que pueden estar buscando una IMM que ofrezca un valor de rendimiento y puesta en marcha rápida. La plataforma servo hidráulica de dos placas ofrece alta productividad y bajo consumo de energía, lo que también es atractivo para una amplia variedad de compañías en la industria del procesamiento del plástico.
Según Castillo, Grupo Comeca ha experimentado una reducción del 20 % en el tiempo de ciclo con su nueva máquina Milacron y un aumento en la capacidad de producción. “Ahora podemos producir una cubeta en un ciclo muy rápido, en comparación con el pasado”, dijo. “Esta velocidad no había sido posible con otras máquinas que tenemos de otras marcas”.
Además, su nueva serie K ocupa mucho menos espacio en sus instalaciones de fabricación. Dijo que la nueva serie K de 800 toneladas del Grupo Comeca está junto a otra máquina de 650 toneladas y que ocupa la misma longitud. “El espacio es fundamental para nosotros, pero también lo es la producción. Una máquina con una huella más compacta que también es más potente nos permite producir más piezas en un área más contenida”.
Fadi Abdal, director de Desarrollo Comercial Global de Milacron, explica que las nuevas plataformas de las series A y K de la compañía cumplen con los requisitos de muchas de las compañías procesadoras de plástico en una región del mundo que actualmente está experimentando un aumento en la producción de partes de gran tamaño, como la industria automotriz y al mismo tiempo enfrenta la necesidad de ofrecer valiosas opciones de rendimiento a los clientes, además de ser conscientes de su impacto ambiental.
“Con una calidad de producción superior, una eficiencia energética mejorada en comparación con la hidráulica convencional y un compromiso con la producción sostenible, nuestras máquinas están impulsando a la industria del moldeo por inyección en esta región hacia la inteligencia industrial”,dijo. “Nuestras nuevas máquinas para el mercado latinoamericano se desarrollan a un valor básico, pero se construyen para un mercado de rendimiento. Realmente nos asociamos con nuestros clientes durante todo el ciclo de vida de sus operaciones para lograr sus objetivos comerciales”.
Las operaciones de fabricación del Grupo Comeca funcionan las 24 horas del día, los siete días de la semana, desde julio hasta Navidad, y los cinco días de la semana (de lunes a viernes) la primera mitad del año. Es una operación estable con muchas piezas móviles que dependen de máquinas de moldeo por inyección líderes en la industria que están diseñadas para el rendimiento, la versatilidad y la confiabilidad.
Según Castillo, la región no se desacelerará pronto, y están equipados para manejar el aumento, gracias a esta asociación. “El potencial de crecimiento de la industria del procesamiento de plásticos en América Latina sigue siendo muy positivo”. Dijo que el segmento de contenedores de la compañía ha crecido en más del 175 por ciento desde 2014, y Milacron ha estado junto a ellos en cada paso del camino.
“Hemos experimentado innovación con Milacron a lo largo de los años que nos han ayudado a crecer con máquinas confiables a un precio asequible”, dijo. “No solo hemos mejorado nuestros ciclos alrededor del 20 por ciento en los últimos años, sino que hemos reducido nuestros costos y ahora estamos produciendo mejores productos como nunca antes para nuestros clientes”.
El futuro de la colaboración entre las dos compañías parece muy prometedor, dijo. A medida que la presencia de Grupo Comeca se expande en respuesta a la demanda de los clientes, el procesador de plásticos continuará confiando en Milacron para soluciones, tecnología y servicio como su socio líder en plásticos.
“Grupo Comeca tiene grandes planes de expansión con proyecciones de inversión importantes en el negocio de plásticos. Solo podemos alcanzar nuestros objetivos con marcas asociadas en las que podamos confiar, y Milacron está seguro de que es una de ellas”.
Acerca de Milacron
Milacron es líder mundial en la industria y tecnología en la fabricación de sistemas de extrusión y moldeo por inyección. Milacron también produce y proporciona maquinaria, auxiliares y componentes que complementan sus máquinas y sistemas de procesamiento de plásticos. Los 1900 asociados de la compañía en todo el mundo colaboran para proporcionar una amplia gama de productos en diversas aplicaciones de plástico en industrias como la automotriz, la construcción, la médica, las telecomunicaciones, la manipulación de materiales, el embalaje y mucho más. Milacron mantiene relaciones de larga data con más de 27 000 clientes globales en América del Norte e India, así como cobertura en Europa y en muchos mercados emergentes, incluidos México y América Central/del Sur.
Milacron es una compañía operadora de Hillenbrand (NYSE: HI), una compañía industrial que opera en más de 100 países y presta servicios a una amplia variedad de industrias en todo el mundo. www.hillenbrand.com.
Acerca de Grupo Comeca
Los productos de la empresa, fabricante y minorista de productos de embalaje con sede en San José, Costa Rica, incluyen cartón corrugado, recipientes de estaño, botellas de plástico, cajas y baldes. También opera una cadena de tiendas de supermercados, además de ofrecer servicios financieros y de administración de bienes raíces, lo que permite que las industrias agrícolas y otras industrias multilaterales protejan y preserven sus productos para que no se dañen. El alcance del Grupo Comeca, líder latinoamericano en la industria del embalaje, abarca desde México hasta Argentina, con clientes que abarcan todo el mundo.
Plastics Today
Plastics Technology
Plastics Today
A collaboration in large-part plastics sustainability through structural foam molding innovation
For nearly three decades, ORBIS Corporation has turned to Milacron’s industry-leading low-pressure injection molding (LPIM) capabilities to meet its customers’ plastics processing goals, and for good reason – Milacron has more than 50 years in the LPIM business.
Today, the Milacron L-Series platform of machines comprises one-third of ORBIS’s fleet of IMMs with units deployed at five North American facilities – a collaboration that benefits ORBIS through lightweighting, reduced scrap, the ability to utilize up to 100% regrind flake material during production, and increased machine efficiency.
Conversely, Milacron has relied on ORBIS to trial various innovations in plastics and conduct machine retrofits throughout the nearly three decades the two have been in collaboration. In addition, ORBIS became a beta site for the Cincinnati-based OEM’s IIoT remote monitoring solution that’s now integrated into every new Milacron injection molding machine installed for plastics processors across the U.S. and Europe.
“Milacron continuously provides us with better technologies, which allow us to continue to improve our efficiencies,” said Lynn Hediger, Vice President of Product Management for ORBIS. “Essentially, we can get more pieces out the door per hour, thanks to Milacron’s L-Series LPIM technology.”
ORBIS has been in plastics for nearly 70 years and is an industry leader in injection-molded reusable packaging. Today, their products are used in a wide variety of industries, including automotive, grocery, pharmaceutical, e-commerce, automated warehouses, and many others. Designed for long service life, their reusable packaging products replace single-use boxes and wooden pallets and can be recycled at the end of their life.
According to the ORBIS website (orbiscorporation.com), the company’s goal is to collaborate and facilitate a more sustainable way for its customers to move and protect goods in the supply chain. “We analyze your business to design and execute an integrated reusable packaging program that increases your efficiency while reducing your environmental impact.”
Milacron’s LPIM structural foam technology is ideal for molding ultra-large and thicker plastic parts – this combination of a solid surface over a cellular-foamed core results in a high strength-to-weight ratio. Through this lightweight technology, the Milacron L-Series LPIM platform provides partners like ORBIS the capability of producing large-part plastics with thicker wall sections and detailed part designs at a lower material weight.
“With Milacron’s LPIM machine platform, ORBIS is positioned to support sustainability initiatives driven by customers due to our continuous improvement mindset and eagerness to make more sustainable and efficient products,” said Hediger. “Not only can we achieve higher recycled material content in our products, but we also leverage opportunities to lightweight and improve packaging efficiency for our customers’ transportation loops,” he said.
The evolution of a sustainable collaboration
ORBIS bought its first LPIM machine from a Milacron-acquired OEM in the mid-nineties. Improved efficiency was a primary goal back then and seeing as though Milacron had been at the forefront of LPIM advancements since the 1970s, it was an advantageous fit. Since that time, corporations have begun integrating sustainability efforts into their Corporate Social Responsibility models, including ORBIS customers.
“Operationally, Milacron has helped ORBIS reduce scrap, avoid the need for re-compounding recycled materials, and increase our press uptime,” said Nathan Marret, Senior Director of Molding Operations for ORBIS. “This has delivered us an advantageous market position that supports our ongoing commitment to efficiency, sustainability, and quality for our customers.”
The scrap material produced by ORBIS, along with end-of-life products purchased back from customers, is reground and fed right back into the Milacron machines, instead of having to first put it through the compounding process. This results in energy savings which additionally benefits ORBIS customers.
“Our reusables are designed for long service life and are intended to replace single-use boxes and wooden pallets in the supply chain,” said Hediger. “By design, reusable totes, pallets, dunnage, metal racks, and bulk systems are used repeatedly during their service life. And, at the end of their life, they can be recovered, recycled, and reprocessed into new packaging products without entering the solid waste stream.”
Over the last three years, Marret says ORBIS has particularly relied on Milacron’s advanced LPIM technology for its automotive industry customers, whose stakeholders tend to hold them to higher standards. He says the EcoVadis sustainability rating platform is now an elevated priority for many ORBIS customers.
“Our automotive customers want to ensure their stakeholders see the ‘real sustainability’ efforts being made,” explained Marret. “The EcoVadis score is what they use to report out on sustainability, so in turn, they are asking their suppliers to use this too.”
EcoVadis rates businesses’ sustainability based on environmental impact, labor, ethics, and procurement practices. According to its website, EcoVadis serves to help companies manage environmental risk and improve sustainability across their supply chains, as well as comply with global regulations.
Part of the data that feeds an EcoVadis score on environmental impact in the plastics industry is the amount of regrind material utilized in part production, as well as overall energy reduction, both of which Milacron LPIM technology affords ORBIS for their customers, according to Marret.
He estimates other large industry sectors within the ORBIS customer base will also soon utilize the EcoVadis sustainability scorecard – and, when they do, ORBIS is ready and willing to support all its customers to ensure sustainability requirements are met accordingly.
“All of the steps we are taking in our sustainability measures within our packaging are in line with EcoVadis,” he said.
ORBIS utilized as a beta for Milacron IIoT solution
ORBIS may consider the effective and efficient production of reusables for its customers its principal priority, but the overall performance of its fleet, or OEE, is also critical – downtime is costly in this industry.
ORBIS first became a beta site for Milacron’s remote IIoT solution, M-Powered, on its high-pressure injection molding machines back in 2016 to monitor its machines and their related processes. Since then, Milacron has helped ORBIS build baseline predictive analytics that the company uses to plan repairs and maintenance, as well as to troubleshoot.
M-Powered turns Milacron machine data into valuable insights that provide ORBIS with unique machine intelligence. These real-time files are collected, combined, and analyzed to help the ORBIS team prevent or reduce inefficiencies.
“Milacron’s M-Powered has provided us the insight to take machines down mindfully for proactive part replacement versus waiting for a catastrophic failure to occur,” said Hediger.
ORBIS integrated M-Powered into its Milacron L-Series machine platform earlier this year. The processor appreciates M-Powered’s ability to improve its machine reliability and press uptime, but most notably its efficiency in predicting failures in advance.
Through this digital monitoring solution, the ORBIS team can tap into Milacron Engineering talent, as well as remote troubleshoot without having to wait for a technician, which equates to machine uptime.
“This is where M-Powered benefits us most,” said Marret. “We oftentimes only have to wait a matter of hours to get problems identified, versus days.”
Milacron customers see sustainability increase through trackable scrap reduction, better energy efficiency performance, and reduced overall risk on their machines.* It’s considered such an advantageous value proposition for customers that Milacron now integrates M-Powered onto all its new machines in the U.S. and Europe for free for the first 12 months of ownership.
A collaborative effort that drives efficiencies
As ORBIS awaits delivery of its latest Milacron LPIM machine that will operate out of the corporation’s Bardstown, Kentucky facility, orders continue to roll in from their customers. The company looks forward to continued growth with Milacron.
“ORBIS and Milacron have a strong bond in our similar vision,” he said. “We look at this as a long-term partnership – not just transactional.”
Additionally, Hediger said there is growth potential for ORBIS through the management of packaging for their customers. Essentially, the greatest sectors for growth will come from ORBIS customers who re-utilize packaging to its fullest potential and continue to grow through evolving sustainability measures.
“ORBIS wants to be on the forefront leading the industry in new technology and advancements in sustainable packaging for our customers,” he said. “We’re always looking for ways to expand and improve our operations. And, we will look to drive continued efficiencies in these operations with Milacron.”
*In October 2022, a Plastics News scrap reduction study reported the industry average scrap rate to be 3 to 4 percent. A top-tier Milacron customer in that same year reduced its scrap from 23% to under 1% with 42 machines running on M-Powered. In 2022, another Milacron M-Powered adopter saw an elimination of 7,000 hours of unplanned downtime on 22 machines in the first year of service. Yet another customer using M-Powered predictive analytics reported saving more than 18,000 kWh over the 12-month test period, while simultaneously producing 3,000 more parts. Milacron also proved to reduce carbon emissions and increase employee safety with M-Powered. Data analytics uncovered that customers used 1600 remote sessions in 2022. Of these sessions, M-Powered afforded customers a 50% solve rate, equating to a reduction of 800 service tech trips to customer locations and increased employee safety by not physically being at the machine to investigate issues.
