Smart Solutions with Smart Injection Moulding Technology

Halver-based Langlotz has made a name for itself manufacturing plastic parts for water dispensers and bar systems. The company has brought state-of-the-art Wittmann Battenfeld injection moulding technology to its production floor, with a servo-hydraulic SmartPower 300/1330 with insider solution.

Langlotz, a family-owned company in the second and third generation, was established in Ruhla, Thuringia in 1910. Its first products were electrical consumer goods and radio accessories. Radio technology parts were already injection-moulded from polystyrene in the 1930s. In 1950, the company was newly established at its present location and has been concentrating on the production of injection-moulded parts made of virtually all thermoplastic materials ever since, including finishing processes and assembly. On a 3,000 m² production floor, parts ranging from 0.1 g to 2 kg in weight are made. The company’s portfolio of services includes product development and prototyping as well as series production.

For many years, Langlotz had been a successful supplier of power plant cooling tower components for the European market. The massive changes in European energy policy, and above all in Germany, which started at the beginning of this decade, necessitated a complete realignment of the company. 85% of its sales are now realised with new customers. The family-owned company with a workforce of 40 employees, has shifted its focus to enclosure technology for water dispensers and bar systems, as well as pumps for drinking water systems. About 8% of its sales are realised with products for the automotive industry. The company’s main market is Germany. It delivers not only individual parts but complete assemblies. In this area, the company addresses its customers proactively, offering them its expert knowledge to improve their products or manufacture them at a lower cost. So, a metal adapter plate, for example, was replaced by a plate made of plastic, or threads dispensed with by using plastic-cutting screws.

To produce the parts, Langlotz uses injection moulding machines ranging from 250 kN to 5,000 kN in clamping force, among them three machines from the servo-hydraulic SmartPower series from WITTMANN BATTENFELD with clamping forces of 350 and 3,000 kN. These machines stand out primarily by their compact design, high energy efficiency, precision and user-friendliness.

One of the two SmartPower 300/1330 machines is equipped with an insider cell. This means a production cell with an integrated robot, a conveyor belt and a protective housing firmly connected with the machine. This solution makes it possible to have all danger areas already secured and certified ex-works. On the SmartPower 300/1330 at Langlotz, a W821 robot from WITTMANN is used. This robot is designed with a horizontal stroke profile with optimised rigidity and weight, which is positioned directly inside the main carriage and carries out the parts removal stroke. The robot’s main axes are powered by servo drives via belt or rack transmission. Minimised moving masses allow for extremely high acceleration and deceleration rates. The W821 model comes with the latest robot control system of the R8.3 generation, which provides a wide range of programming options, and the patented SmartRemoval function for maximal shortening of the unproductive mould opening times.

Ulrich Seibert, Managing Director of Langlotz, expresses great satisfaction with the machines from the SmartPower series, in particular, the SmartPower with an insider cell, and primarily because of its small footprint and user-friendliness. “For us, this production cell is definitely an improvement in manufacturing technology. Its intuitive operation is also greatly appreciated by our staff members.”

But WITTMANN BATTENFELD impresses Ulrich Seibert and his son Christoph, who is responsible for the company’s commercial management, not only with the quality of its machines but above all with fast response times and good service, which are essential factors in this business relationship which has already existed for over 20 years.

Featured Image (Pictured, from left) Frank Höher, Sales WITTMANN BATTENFELD, Frederike Seibert, Project Management Langlotz, Ulrich Seibert, Managing Director Langlotz, Thomas Bertram, Sales WITTMANN BATTENFELD, Christoph Seibert, Commercial Manager Langlotz.

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