High Volume Production of Test Swabs to start shortly
Schwertberg, Austria – June 2020
The demand for test swabs for nasal and throat swab tests will continue to grow strongly due to Covid-19. Injection moulding machine manufacturer ENGEL AUSTRIA and Hack Formenbau are jointly committed to ensuring the global supply of test swabs. By providing an integrated system solution and process technology consulting, they are helping plastics processors to launch high-volume production of two-component test swabs with a short lead time.
Highest precision with the shortest cycle times
High efficiency is ensured by the integrated production process, which ENGEL specifically adapts to the mould solution developed by Hack. The process is based on a tie-bar-less, hydraulic, two-component ENGEL victory injection moulding machine with an integrated ENGEL viper linear robot for fully automated removal and depositing of the swabs. The victory machine is equipped with iQ weight control for high process consistency. This smart assistance system from ENGEL’s inject 4.0 program detects fluctuations in the raw material and ambient conditions, and automatically compensates for them shot by shot by adapting the quality-relevant process parameters.
Sharing many years of experience
ENGEL and Hack Formenbau collaborate closely on many projects, with a focus on high-precision applications for medical technology.
“We have had excellent collaboration for many years. And our customers benefit from this”, as Christoph Lhota, Vice President, ENGEL medical emphasises. “Our customers receive a complete system that is precisely tailored to their individual requirements and can get started with series production in the shortest possible time”.
Covid-19-relevant orders are processed with the highest priority at both Hack Formenbau and the ENGEL plants worldwide.
In the future, the mould and system solution will not be used exclusively for coronavirus test swabs. ENGEL and Hack Formenbau are also jointly developing highly efficient complete systems for the production of swabs for influenza tests or gynaecological examinations, for example.
ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH
ENGEL is one of the global leaders in the manufacture of plastics processing machines. Today, the ENGEL Group offers a full range of technology modules for plastics processing as a single source supplier: injection moulding machines for thermoplastics and elastomers together with automation,
with individual components also being competitive and successful in the market. With nine production plants in Europe, North America and Asia (China and Korea), and subsidiaries and representatives in more than 85 countries, ENGEL offers its customers the excellent global support they need to compete and succeed with new technologies and leading-edge production systems.
TECHSPAN NEW ZEALAND LTD
Techspan have represented Engel in New Zealand since their inception in 1979. The company’s Auckland premises house a showroom, warehouse, sales offices, and service centre.
“We strive to support our customers with a high level of customer service and to provide quick delivery times. We are able to provide technical advice and qualified technical service support”, said Dave Fastnedge, Managing Director.
Techspan New Zealand is part of the Techspan Group, a 100% privately owned company, supplying quality industrial products since January 1979.
