27 Oct - 3 Nov  K2010

Visit us at Hall 11 Stand G74
Düsseldorf Germany

STAR AUTOMATION EUROPE AT THE K2010 EXHIBITION

Never before an international exhibition has been as important as K2010. In a general background that has seen appearance overcome substance  for the last few years, it’s now time for quality and reliability to take back their primary role. These qualities will make the difference on the market during the next months and years.

The international crisis, which is not completely over yet, has undoubtedly left some scars. Only those companies who took the right decisions in the first place have suffered less than others, thanks to the quality of their products, their well-established portfolio of customers and by ensuring the best customer satisfaction.
It is likely that the list of exhibitors at the K2010 show will be slightly different from that of the past years, probably even more international. In fact, the forced reduction of the historical European leaders on a market which is continuously evolving despite the massively reduced economic growth has given space to new protagonists coming from other countries.
The European scenario, though, remains the most awaited one, where research and strategy meet. In fact, even though many investments are made outside Europe, the decisions that stand behind these investments still take place in the old continent.

This privilege is in our hands only and depends closely on the renowned levels of quality and innovation that others are not able to match yet.The Star Group has had to face this deep crisis  like most other companies. Yet, Star did not alter the number of its employees and, on the contrary, invested even more on Research and Development.
This is how the new 2011 range of robots, which will be  showed on preview at K2010 in Düsseldorf, has been conceived. The new range will be exclusively presented for the first time at K2010 and will be launched on the market about six months later.
This span will be necessary to fine-tune the global production and switch to the new products after scrupulous tests lasted over one year.

This new range of robots will replace our well-grounded “Gxe” and “ixe” models. And if it is true that you don’t change a winning horse, Star decided not to change radically the old versions but rather increase their performance.
The main changes affect the structure and the controller; the number of options and the aesthetic of the machines have been touched up too.

The main attention of the researchers, though, has focused on two main factors:

a) shorter open mould times and total cycle time
b) lower energy consumption and more eco-friendly products

Like in the previous version, the Gxe range will probably cover 80% of the applications while the new ixe range is conceived for a more demanding user. The controllers will still be available with free programming as well as operative modes. Moreover, it will be possible to connect to the web for an easier fault-finding or remote control of the robots’ productivity and efficiency.
In our stand G74, Hall 11, we will show 2 models of the new ixe and Gxe series, which will demonstrate the significant work that has been made and which will be available on the market starting from 2011.
Our main target is to notably increase the performance of both versions and  highlight the price/quality relationship of the Gxe series, which could be compared to the current ixe range.

Finally, a robot model Uxe-1000 with Stec360B will round off the exhibition of our products. We chose this particular robot as it demonstrates once more the precision, speed and reliability that have made Star Automation Europe so recognizable in the market.

Peripheral applications
In addition to our main new range, it is necessary to remember that in the last few years Star has been cooperating with a number of OEM manufacturers. Star has become thus a specialised partner for the supply of turn-key systems, especially in the packaging sector. Thanks to a team who can satisfy the most demanding requirements, Star can supply cutting-edge solutions always. Moreover, the established collaboration with IMM and mould manufacturers has given Star the chance to acquire an international reputation in the packaging field, especially as far as the handling of single-use items is concerned.
At K2010 we will show:

1.    automation system for the handling and packaging of PS single-use cutlery
2.    automation system for the handling and packaging of transparent PS cups
3.    IML automation for PE truncated conical food container
4.    top-entry robot for several applications of extraction and deposit

1.    stand BMB Spa –A33/Hall 13
This time Star’s main target, together with its partners BMB Spa and Fratelli Bianchi, is to greatly reduce the cycle time of this production area. All the three partners already know this application but our ambitious goal is to be able to mould in approximately 3,5 seconds, palletise the forks extracted from a 32-cavity mould and package them in a bag containing 50 off. Again, energy saving is the motto for all: for BMB and its full-electric Ekw25Pi moulding machine as well as for Star, which will employ a highly efficient and simplified solution.

2.    stand Plastic Metal Spa –B58/Hall 15
This production area will manufacture and package transparent PS cups, like those often used by airlines. The cups will be made with a hybrid Plastic Metal moulding machine, model Multipower 500, and a 12-cavity mould manufactured by Fratelli Bianchi. We estimate to obtain a cycle time ranging between 3,5 and 3,8 seconds. The end product will be a package containing 12 cups ready to be sold after having been produced according to all the current health and safety regulations to which the food industry needs to adhere. During the actual production cycle, visitors will be able to check on a “counter” the actual energy consumption of the system and appreciate the actual low levels of energy required.

3.    stand Haitian Europe GmbH –A41/Hall 15
Star will be present on the Haitian stand, where the moulding manufacturer will exhibit a new IMM of the Mercury series. This innovative model, which is the result of the German experience and the resources of their Chinese headquarters, will surprise for innovation and quality. Star Automation is proud to be a strategic partner for this important launch and we are aware of the responsibility that we have been given, yet we are sure that we will be up to the situation. In this production area, the new Mercury ME1500-45-50 moulding machine and a 2-cavity mould, will manufacture a truncated thin-surfaced conical container using IML technology. The cycle time is as fast as that required by a typical ice-cream container and it will be necessary to mould in approximately 4 seconds.   
In this same stand, we will also equip a Venus 130ton moulding machine with one of our vertical-entry servo-driven robots, model Cse-1000, which is now renowned for its incomparable  price/quality ratio and which has always been much appreciated by Haitian.

4. stand Chen Hsong Machinery Co. Ltd. – B43/Hall 13
We are proud to have been chosen as partners of another important IMM manufacturer: Chen Hsong Machinery co. Ltd. In Chen Hsong’s stand we will exhibit our robot model Cse-1400, which will operate on a JM568/SVP moulding machine with a clamping force of 568 tons producing automotive parts.
Another robot, model Uxe-1000, will handle two covers made of PP moulded by a Chen Hsong JM138Ai moulding machine.

5. We will probably be present in 3 or 4 more production areas at K2010, where our robots will simply take out and release the moulded parts. However, as these applications are still being defined with the manufacturers, we prefer not to disclose the type of product or the IMM manufacturer with which we will be delighted to cooperate, both during this exhibition and on the market.

We look forward to taking part in this important venue and we would like to take this occasion to thank all the IMM manufacturers for the confidence placed in Star Automation Europe:
-    B.M.B. Spa, Brescia (I)
-    Plastic Metal Spa, Gambellara (Vicenza), (I)
-    Haitian Europe GmbH, Nürnberg (D)
-    Chen Hsong Machinery Co. Ltd., Hong Kong