Rubber injection moulding report: Sealing the deal

French injection moulding machinery maker REP International has recently issued a Q&A interview with customer Giuseppe Natoli, managing director of SHS Italia.

SHS Italia specialises in the production of complex technical gaskets and O-rings in rubber and silicone for markets, including food & beverage, electrical & electronic, gas, sanitary and automotive.

The Capriolo, Italy-based moulder operates four horizontal injection machines EPG200, three horizontal injection machines EPG300 and a 300-ton compression moulding machine – with plans to add six new machines in the next two years.

The EPG presses were originally developed by RPM, a specialist in horizontal hydroelectric machines, which is now a member and subsidiary of the REP group.

SHS Italia MD Natoli grouped the factors behind its selection of these machines into four main points:

1. Dimensions of the machine: with the compact layout of the machine, we save space in the department for a better use of our building surface
2. Energy saving: we measured a real advantage concerning electrical consumption of our machines that help us to reduce our environment impact.
3. Remote maintenance with ‘help’ software: help us to reduce mean-time-to-repair time in case of faults, while a ‘high performance pack’ enables our production to become autonomous.
4. Precision: electric movements allow us a very precise control of the machine, that means repeatable and stable process. Furthermore, electric movements mean no oil into the moulding area, it’s a big advantage for quality assurance of our products.

The MD went on to say that the control capabilities of the machinery allow it to manage energy-price increases without impacting on its competitive selling prices in the market.

The Italian company uses RPM machines mainly for the production of O-rings and technical articles – “even complex ones, but for which automatic operation of the press is possible.”

“An automatic cycle means fewer manual operations, that means less variation during the process, in other terms a best controlled process,” noted Natoli. SHS Italia, he added, also values “the versatility, simplicity and wealth of information of the presses, which allow us to analyse every aspect in detail to transform ideas into concrete work.”