Tag: sumitomo

Medical-Spec Package Arrives in Ireland

As part of Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s expanding presence in Ireland, the company’s newly-kitted out showroom, testing and tool trial facility in Limerick recently took delivery of a high-speed IntElect S 100 medical-specification production cell.

Responding to one of the greatest challenges for medical manufacturers – constant high output, rigorous technical requirements and high precision – the IntElect S 100 delivers the repeatability and accuracy required for highly demanding applications. Specifically, the production of pipette tips, vials, drug delivery devices and pen style injectors.

Transported direct from Fakuma 2023, the IntElect S 100 machine’s ability to accommodate various tool configurations and automation options, combined with its energy efficiency, makes this machine the natural choice for producing high-volume medical components with the greatest precision.

The controlled acceleration and deceleration injection speeds underpins this medical machine’s success, notes the company’s Medical Business Development Director Anatol Sattel. “When there is no margin for error, the IntElect’s highly dynamic direct drive technology can react quicker to the injection speed changes. This not only delivers a faster cycle time but ensures the optimal product quality. All of this results in a faster ROI.”

Featuring direct drives that are renowned for being clean, cool, fast and quiet, the 0.14 seconds required to reach the IntElect´s maximum injection speed of 350mm/sec opens up the process window in critical areas where  the difference between overfilling, a full part or a short shot, can be very small. This filling speed can also help to prevent core shifts in applications like pipette tips that are more susceptible to the forces associated with slow injection speeds.

With the company’s medical drive systems tailored to the applications, customers in Ireland will soon be able to see how features like these help to lower energy consumption and reduce the amount of heat having to be dissipated from air-conditioned environments. All combining to help reduce operating costs.

Process optimisation, enhanced productivity and TCO can have the biggest impact on profitability. Again, these are greatly enhanced by this medical cell’s high-performance drives. Comprehensive lifetime tests performed on both the machines and components confirm that spindles tested under the toughest production conditions showed no signs of visible wear, even after millions of cycles.

“Having our very own medical machine in Ireland now gives customers a high-spec package to support validations, run tool trials and provide valuable process optimisation training to technicians. We are anticipating this machine will generate a lot of interest from medical moulders in Ireland. Combined with the IntElect S 180 machine already installed at our new Limerick facility, we now have the ability to demonstrate a range of AI and connectivity features to customers in all sectors. Critically, customers can benefit from the convenience of running tests and trials on site, without having to travel overseas. We look forward to welcoming customers from the first week of January 2024,” emphasises UK & Ireland Director Dave Raine.

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag opens Limerick office, launching a dedicated service, support and sales team and training facility to cover all of Ireland.

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has been deeply rooted in Ireland’s plastics processing sector longer than any other global moulding machinery supplier. Since the mid 1960’s to be precise. With 400+ supported precision machines efficiently manufacturing billions of medical, biotech, electronic, automotive, engineering and FMCG packaging components yearly, polymer manufacturers can now benefit from the global firm’s new Centre of Excellence, IOM3-accredited training, and direct access to a responsive, dedicated team of experienced technical, service support and processing professionals.

Designed to serve as the polymer innovation heartbeat of Ireland, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s new registered Limerick office was strategically selected to serve the company’s already sizeable customer base. Headed up by Senior Support Engineer Kris Thacker with the support of longstanding Engineer Noel Davey under the direction of National Business Development Manager Darren Herron, the company’s expansion in Ireland paves the way for Sumitomo (SHI) Demag customers to leverage its physical presence alongside the Group’s respected market-focused intel, technology innovations, automation solutions, and medical machine validation support.

“Given the maturity of the precision processing market in Ireland, our new Ireland office provides us with the opportunity to serve our customers in the best way possible while building upon our physical footprint in the region,” comments UK managing director Nigel Flowers.

Adding in a permanent domestic service and support base is especially beneficial for market access and financial transactions. “Being able to trade in Euros for spares, parts and machines immediately eliminates the overheads and volatility associated with currency exchanges and inflationary risks,” affirms Nigel.

Longstanding advocates of all-electric machinery, in the financial year ending in 2022 Ireland accounted for more than 50 percent of new UK Sumitomo (SHI) Demag machinery sales. This states Nigel is testament to the successful partnership established with domestic machine sales agent and auxiliary material handling processing specialist TSM Polytech. 

Putting into context the heightened demand by Ireland’s SMEs and multinationals for this centralised one-stop plastics processing service, R&D, tool testing and training hub, Stephen Glancy, TSM Polytech’s Sales Manager, comments: “Energy and material costs, waste and scrap reduction, higher productivity, repeatable quality and inventory management are among the many competitive challenges Ireland’s plastic manufacturers are contending with. Being able to present customers with a total solution that draws upon the natural synergy of our two companies is a distinct advantage for Ireland’s processors. Especially those that don’t have the in-house engineering resources to perform trials, validations, process optimisation training or implement automation and digitalisation solutions.”

With contracts signed and the keys in hand, the unit located in Annacotty Business Park is currently being converted into a state-of-the-art training and showcase facility. The team will be ready to commence accepting domestic machine refurbishments and re-builds very soon, announces Kris. Customers and business officials will all get the opportunity to tour the new facility at a ‘ribbon cutting’ launch event planned towards the end of the summer.

The polymer industry in Ireland comprises more than 200 highly innovative companies, generating sales of €1.7 billion and €1.25 billion in exports between them, reports Polymer Technology Ireland. It’s regarded as an advanced sector, with pronounced growth in the manufacturing of high quality precision products and components used in high tech industries like ICT, MedTech, automotive, and aerospace.