Injection Molding Conveyors: Belt Conveyors for the Plastics Industry
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Plastic ejection molding is one of the most widely-used manufacturing processes on the planet, responsible for the manufacturing of such everyday plastic products as packaging, engine components, tableware and cutlery, furniture, electronics, bottle caps and lids, and much more.
If you’re in the injection molding industry, you know that high productivity is crucial to staying competitive, and that maximizing the efficiency of your production flow is one of the most reliable ways to keep productivity (and profit margins) high.
At mk North America, improving production flow is what we do best. Keep reading to learn more about how conveyor systems from mk can help you do just that for your injection molding application.
How Does Injection Molding Work, and Why Are Conveyors Needed?
Briefly stated, modern plastic injection molding works by adding small plastic pellets into a feed hopper. The pellets are then fed into a heated barrel to be melted down and pushed forward with a reciprocating screw ram. The molten plastic is forced by the screw through a narrow nozzle and injected into a specialized custom mold, in which it is shaped and hardened into its final form.
When the plastic solidifies, the mold opens, and ejector pins push the part off of the mold. The mold then closes and the process is repeated.
Conveyor systems can play a part at several stages of the injection molding process. Conveyors can feed raw plastic pellets into the hoppers to be heated and injected, and plastic parts fresh from their molds can be carried down the production line on conveyors to be manually processed and inspected. Conveyors are also ubiquitous in the assembly and packaging of finished products.
By using the right conveyor systems and making sure they’re operating at peak efficiency, each stage of the injection molding process can be perfectly synchronized, minimizing downtime and improving productivity.
Injection Molding Conveyor Systems from mk North America
For injection molding, mk North America offers numerous primary conveyor solutions which can be adapted to specific applications, such as the MBF-P 2040 modular plastic belt conveyor system, the KFG-P 2000 cleated incline conveyor, and others.
The benefits of these conveyors for injection molding applications include maintenance-free dual-sealed bearings, cleanly integrated design assembly, modular design for seamless integration into existing systems, and more.
To learn more about conveyor systems for injection molding, get in touch with mk North America by calling (860) 769-5500 or filling out our form below.