Fakuma - Dr Boy pitches low cost energy savings
German machinery maker Dr Boy introduced a new hydraulic drive option for its 55 and 90 tonne injection machines at Fakuma that it claims can reduce energy consumption by up to 50%, yet carries a price premium of less than Euro 3,500.
The energy saving E series technology, which will be offered initially on the company’s 55 and 90 tonne models, replaces the standard variable speed hydraulic pump unit with a servo-motor pump drive. This delivers only the volume of hydraulic oil required at any particular point in the moulding cycle; when no pump capacity is required, the motor shuts off completely.
The company says the E machine, which uses an otherwise standard hydraulic system, will reduce energy consumption by 50% compared to a full hydraulic machine with a variable speed pump. The specially developed servo motor and software control also provides a 10% improvement in operating dynamics and a 20% reduction in noise levels, according to the company, while the reduced load on the oil minimises cooling requirements.
Boy export sales engineer Hans-Peter Hirte said the new machine drive has been designed to enable the company’s customer base to realise many of the benefits of all-electric moulding machines without the capital investment or the need to retrain maintenance staff.
“Our philosophy is to construct machines for people that will own them for a long time. This machine is easy to work on and the parts costs are not high,” he said.
Because the 55E design uses just a single servo motor drive, customers can also benefit from a much reduced connected load. Hirte said the 11kW rating of the 55E is the same as a standard hydraulic machine; the multiple drives on a conventional all-electric would be rated at 70kW or more.
The company said the E machines can be ordered now, with the first 55 tonne machines likely to be delivered to customers in March. The first 90E models will be delivered in April.
Premiums over standard Boy machines are Euro 2,000 for the 55E and Euro 3,500 for the 90E.
Hirte said the E drive technology, which has been developed exclusively for Boy, may be applied to other models in the Boy range in the future.