Engel partners in two technology centres in Michigan

Injection molding machine and automation maker Engel North America, a member of the Engel Group, has entered into strategic partnerships with Michigan-based companies Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering and SA Engineering to improve weight reduction and production efficiencies in automotive applications.

“The strategic partnership with Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering will focus on providing our customers with the full development of a product and process, from the initial concept to a full fledged production solution focusing on the integration of mold and machine; all being offered under one roof at the Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering location in Rochester Hills,” said Engel CSO Christoph Steger. “The second partnership, with SA Engineering, will offer a neutral, confidential environment in which a broad array of technologies can be tested, during mold tryouts, for the development of repeatable, production ready processes.”

One result of the Engel/SA Engineering partnership is the new SA Engineering Technology Center in Livona, Mich. The centre combines technology partners including Engel and foaming technology provider Trexel Inc., and is designed to offer state-of-the-art equipment and on-site technical specialists to assist OEMs. “The showroom at the SA Engineering Technology Center is equipped with five Engel injection molding systems, which are available for process development and optimization, mold trials, and technology testing,” SA Engineering said in a statement. “The SA Engineering Technology Center is primarily automotive focused, but not necessarily. It brought together our desire to create a center of development for advanced injection molding technologies with Engel’s constant push to expand the envelope of injection molding techniques.”

The SA Engineering Technology Center. Photo Credit: Engel

And as a result of its partnership with Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering, the new Technology Center at the Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering facility in Rochester Hills is equipped with Engel machinery ranging from 340 to 3500 US tons, each with an integrated Engel linear (3-axis) robot. “The Technology Center is dedicated to improving the integration of mold and machine to increase production efficiencies and part quality,” Engel said. “By the end of the calendar year, there will be four Engel machines, each with integrated robots, in the Technology Center.”

The Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering Technology Center. Photo Credit: Engel