Emold

Total Life Cycle Approach for Efficient & Networking Plastic Injection Moulding Processes.

Emold intends completely to redefine the plastic injection process, by proposing a new concept of plastic injection processes in which moulds will pass from being passive elements to becoming networked active elements with embedded knowledge. This will improve the efficiency of the whole life cycle of plastic parts production, from mould-making to the production process itself, as all process parameters will be able to be monitored in real time.

In order to achieve this general goal, the project has established the following objectives:

  1. To design mechatronic moulds equipped with sensors & mechatronic devices, so that moulds will become "living" & "intelligent" agents of the plastic supply chain.
  2. To integrate these mechatronic moulds into Networks, so that these intelligent moulds, which may be thousands of miles apart, will be managed by an embedded system & will send the required information to the different participants in the plastic supply chain.
  3. To develop a Knowledge Based System (KBS), so that the knowledge embedded in these intelligent moulds will be retained & will allow the efficiency of new processes to be optimised, as well as the set-up phase for new processes & the design of new moulds.

These "intelligent" & mechatronic moulds will offer the following added-value functionalities:

  • The efficiency & the process parameters of the production will be assessed & adjusted in a closed control loop in on-process real time.
  • Moulds will be able to interact actively with the injection system & the control system to optimise the efficiency & quality of the processes.
  • The mould itself will detect wear conditions (self-diagnosis capabilities) & deviations from quality objectives.
  • The process data will be analysed & stored as a means to predict & optimise the design & development of future new moulds & also to have a quality tracking system.

Start date: 1/10/2006
Completion date: 30/09/2009

For more information, please visit - www.emold.eu

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