PCE Technology Reinvented: Micrometal Group’s Impact

In the contemporary landscape of swift technological advancements, manufacturers in various sectors are encountering increasing demands for smaller, more intricate, and highly accurate components. Conventional manufacturing methods frequently struggle to adapt to these changing requirements, leading to innovation bottlenecks. Photo-chemical etching (PCE) has surfaced as a game-changing answer, with micrometal Group leading the way — a pioneer in precision manufacturing, assisting companies in overcoming obstacles and expanding the boundaries of design potential.

micrometal Group is setting new standards in high-precision, burr-free, and stress-free manufacturing, enabling industries such as medical, aerospace, automotive, and electronics to develop next-generation products without the constraints of traditional fabrication methods. Jochen Kern, Head of Sales and Marketing at micrometal Group, explains, “Innovation in precision manufacturing isn’t just about making things smaller — it’s about making them better, stronger, and more reliable while maintaining efficiency and scalability. PCE allows us to achieve this, and we are continually refining our processes to meet the exacting demands of modern industries.”

At micrometal Group, the investment in state-of-the-art technology and process optimization has led to major advancements in PCE. The capability to manufacture ultra-fine features and complex shapes is essential for applications such as medical implants, microfluidics, and high-frequency electronics. PCE also provides scalability and cost efficiency, enabling producers to easily move from prototyping to large-scale production without expensive tooling modifications. Moreover, the process is extremely adaptable, accommodating a vast array of materials, including stainless steel, titanium, and copper alloys, making it suitable for various industries. Another significant benefit is its eco-friendly and sustainable nature, producing minimal waste in comparison to conventional manufacturing techniques and lowering overall energy consumption.

The flexibility and precision of PCE make it an indispensable technology in industries where tolerances are tight and performance is critical.

Kern continues, “In the medical and healthcare sector, PCE is used to manufacture burr-free, high- precision surgical instruments, implantable components, and microfluidic devices that meet stringent regulatory compliance standards. For aerospace and defence, the technology allows for the creation of lightweight yet intricate components, such as fuel system parts, sensor elements, and shielding solutions, ensuring durability and enhanced performance in extreme environments. Meanwhile, in electronics and semiconductor applications, PCE is instrumental in producing high- precision EMI/RFI shielding, micro-connectors, and cooling solutions, supporting advancements in miniaturisation and ensuring signal integrity.”

As demand for greater precision, complexity, and efficiency continues to rise, micrometal Group remains committed to pushing the limits of what’s possible with PCE. “Our goal is to empower manufacturers with the tools they need to innovate without limits,” says Kern. “By continuously refining our expertise in PCE, we ensure that our partners stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.”

For organizations aiming to improve accuracy, scalability, and effectiveness in their production methods, micrometal Group is a reliable ally. Get in touch with micrometal Group now to learn how our knowledge in photo-chemical etching can propel your next breakthrough.

www.micrometal.de

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Green Manufacturing Takes Center Stage at KraussMaffei’s Extrusion Summit

• A unique industry get-together for extrusion and recycling
• Keynote speeches and live demonstrations at the state-of-the-art Technology Center
• Focus on Pipe & Profile and Recycling

KraussMaffei Extrusion welcomes industry experts to the Sustainable Extrusion Summit, a leading event for the plastics and recycling sectors, scheduled to occur in Laatzen near Hanover, Germany. Participants can anticipate a comprehensive agenda highlighting the newest advancements in extrusion and recycling technologies. The event is split into two primary themes: the emphasis on Pipe & Profile will take place on March 25 and 26, whereas March 26 and 27 will concentrate on recycling. Central to the event is the Technology Center, which sets new standards in extrusion through its distinctive development and application expertise.

The Technology Center is located within KraussMaffei Extrusion’s new building complex that spans 97,000 m². “With a total of 26 cutting-edge production lines, we are focused on technological excellence and sustainability, reinforcing our position as a leading entity in the plastics sector. We are excited to showcase this at the Sustainable Extrusion Summit and look forward to welcoming attendees from around the globe,” states Dr. Thomas Unger, Vice President of Technology at KraussMaffei Extrusion.

The event highlights include numerous live demonstrations, expert panels, and discussion forums, providing participants with opportunities to engage with industry leaders and explore current trends and innovations.

Pipe & Profile (March 25 – 26) – New multilayer pipe systems

The first two days will be dedicated to pipe and profile extrusion. Live demonstrations will showcase high-performance multilayer pipe production using the new pipe head, efficient solutions for PVC pipe manufacturing and pelletizing.

Top-class keynote speeches from partners such as Borealis, Kabelwerke Eupen, Baerlocher and Georg Fischer will provide insights into future trends and global challenges. Additionally, discussions will cover digital solutions and advanced control systems to enhance production efficiency and quality.

Recycling (March 26 – 27) – Experience the circular economy firsthand

The second half of the event will center on recycling and the circular economy. A key highlight will be the premiere of KraussMaffei Extrusion’s new machine concept for controlled upcycling of post-consumer plastic waste into high-quality automotive compounds. Another major feature is the energy-efficient and scalable production of food-safe rPET pellets.

Furthermore, the entire spectrum of recycling will be explored – from mechanical and solvent-based to chemical processes. Expert presentations from industry partners such as PureCycle Technology, Veolia, Lober, Polymetrix, and ExxonMobil, as well as from Plastics Europe and leading research institutions like IKV Aachen and IKK Hannover, will provide valuable insights into current developments and trends. The program will be complemented by groundbreaking technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence in compound development, smart sensor technology for in-line quality monitoring, and solutions for cable compounds in an electrified future.

www.kraussmaffei.com

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Husky Technologies Takes a Big Leap Forward with New Acquisition

Husky Technologies, renowned globally for its expertise in injection molding technology and solutions, is excited to declare its acquisition of secondary injection unit and rotary platen technologies from MGS Healthcare Manufacturing (MGS), a worldwide leader in healthcare manufacturing solutions. This acquisition enhances Husky’s status as a premier provider of integrated multi-material solutions across essential sectors, such as medical, packaging, and consumer electronics.

Advancing Innovation and Enhancing Customer Value

This acquisition facilitates the combination of precision secondary injection units and rotary platens with their state-of-the-art Altanium mold controller technology. By integrating these advanced multi-shot technologies, it enhances its capability to offer comprehensive, high-performance, turnkey solutions customized for the production of multi-material and multi-color applications.

The inclusion of these technologies allows them to broaden its range of fully integrated, multi-material solutions, boosting manufacturing efficiency and effectiveness. This also opens up new avenues for growth in the packaging, medical, personal, and homecare sectors, allowing producers to take advantage of a more complete array of innovative, high-performing solutions.

“This acquisition reinforces our commitment to innovation and excellence,” said Robert Domodossola, President of Systems and Tooling, Husky. “By bringing these complementary technologies into our portfolio, we are enhancing our ability to serve customers with integrated, high-performance solutions that drive efficiency and growth.”

“MGS is pleased to announce the divestiture of its Multishot product line to Husky. As a global leader in injection molding technology and a key strategic supplier to MGS, Husky is the ideal organization to take over and continue advancement of the Multishot product line,” said Shawn Krenke, Chief Technology Officer, MGS. “This divestiture allows MGS to concentrate on being a world-class contract development and manufacturing partner to our healthcare customers and we are dedicated to working closely with Husky to ensure a seamless transition and integration for all future and existing customers.”

Seamless Integration and Future Outlook

They are already working on ensuring a smooth integration of these technologies for customers and the new product additions will be showcased on Husky’s booth (Hall A, #627) at the upcoming Plastics Technology XPO, North America’s premier molding and moldmaking event, taking place in Illinois from March 18-20.

This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Husky’s continued expansion and commitment to providing innovative, end-to-end solutions for the global market.

https://www.husky.co/en/

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Leading the Charge into a High-Tech Future

By Erwin Busselot, Director Business Innovation & Solutions, Ricoh Graphic Communications, Ricoh Europe

Complex discussions regarding how digital printing can help printers enhance their offerings have taken the place of straightforward talks about the financial breakeven point between traditional and digital printing. This was an important conclusion in the Drupa Horizon Report.

Rolf Müller, the CEO of Printimo, which is part of the Optimo Service industrial services group, is well aware of this reality. This Swiss Print Service Provider (PSP) specializes in a variety of personalized products such as business cards, brochures, and books, and has invested in the latest RICOH Pro C9500 and RICOH Pro C7500 technology to handle a growing range of jobs. He notes, “Currently, we complete 60 percent of our jobs using digital printers, and this percentage continues to rise. In some cases, we produce just four pages of highly personalized content, while for other projects, we can create up to 100,000 flyers. Although offset printing is still a crucial part of our business for longer print runs, the adaptability and speed of digital printing are becoming increasingly essential. As the trend shifts from high-volume black-and-white printing to more customized outputs, we aimed to provide new alternatives with bolder colors to help our clients distinguish themselves in their markets.”

With its Pro C9500 and Pro C7500, Printimo is able to adapt to client needs, providing exceptional levels of personalization and innovation – swiftly, dependably, and effectively. Rolf Müller explains: “Our capacity for color printing has significantly increased. A 40-page brochure used to take 12 hours or 1.5 working days to print on our previous machines. Now, with the Pro C9500, we achieve the same output 30 percent faster and can dispatch it to the customer within a day. This represents a substantial time saving for our entire team – and enhances our customer service!”

“Stable and good print quality are at the top of our wish list,” states Rik Thijssen, Operations Manager, of Dutch scientific and educational book publisher Printforce. The specialist in on demand “single copy” books has installed two Pro C9500 devices to help it produce 15 to 20 thousand books every day, in three shifts, with an average print run of six copies.

The new systems are identical and interchangeable, ensuring sufficient capacity is always available. In addition to paper trays for three different paper types, they feature an XL tray for nonstandard paper sizes such as those required for dust jackets or covers with flaps. Process Engineer Rogier Calsijn explains: “The quality requirements for book covers are high. Especially when producing a single copy: any deviation on the cover can be grounds for the customer to complain or return. The quality of the covers is hardly an issue anymore, because the promised colour stability is actually delivered in practice.”

Europe’s first Pro C9500 at the Cantonal Printed Matter and Supplies Office (kdmz) of the Canton of Zurich in Switzerland, was chosen to support the production of a wide range of print output for the Canton of Zurich administration and other regional government departments and organisations. Rolf Thoma, Head of Procurement and Printing at kdmz, says: “In the first six months of a year especially, we print many time critical documents. These are highly sensitive print jobs, which we can’t give to external printers. Our old colour print solution could not deliver the speed and output quality we needed. We had to increase our inhouse capacity to facilitate seamless operations and ensure citizens received relevant documents on time.”

Markus Kirchhofer, Managing Director, adds: “Now we can produce complex graphics with more contrast, detail, and clarity. We can also streamline print jobs. For example, in the past, we sometimes printed the cover for a high-profile publication separately to the main content of a booklet or brochure. Now we can print everything on our Pro C9500 to simplify and accelerate the process. Thanks to the high reliability and efficiency of the Ricoh printers, we can increase our production volumes and deliver even the most complex print jobs faster. This improves our operational flexibility and enhances our service capabilities. With our new Ricoh production printers, we’re taking a big step forward in print quality.”

Poplar Services Printers was the inaugural company in Great Britain to install both a Pro C9500 and a Pro C7500, enabling them to enhance their capacity, introduce new print colors, and venture into short-run packaging. Managing Director Martin Winders states, “After previously operating the Ricoh Pro C9110, we believed it was a logical progression to upgrade to Ricoh’s latest technology. This advancement creates new opportunities, and having now completed comprehensive training and testing on all equipment, we are ready to showcase our new capabilities as the first company in the UK providing this complete service.” These and other print service providers have opted for the latest Ricoh Pro C9500 and Ricoh Pro C7500 technologies to boost their production abilities and broaden their service offerings. Discover how they can assist your business in exploring previously unreachable avenues for profitable growth.

https://www.ricoh.com/

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ENGEL’s Investment in Mexico to Enhance Regional Supply Chain

ENGEL is strengthening its market presence in the Americas with the grand opening of a new production facility in Querétaro, Mexico. This strategic step marks a substantial expansion of ENGEL’s regional manufacturing capabilities, aimed at providing faster delivery times and increased availability of injection molding machines for customers across the Americas.

With this expansion, ENGEL is reinforcing its commitment to bringing production closer to customers in the region. The new facility allows increased efficiency and greater responsiveness to market demands.

Enhancing Regional Presence

The newly acquired facility provides ENGEL with the necessary capacity and infrastructure to significantly scale up production. “This expansion allows us to notably accelerate the start of production, ensuring increased availability of our machines for customers across the region,” says Stefan Engleder, CEO ENGEL Group.

Vanessa Malena, President ENGEL Americas, also reinforces the long-term commitment to the region: “Mexico plays a crucial role in our global production strategy and is a key market for injection molding technology. With this facility, we are enhancing our local manufacturing

footprint while ensuring a seamless experience for our customers, from production to after- sales support.”

Furthermore, the Querétaro facility offers ample space for future expansion. The decision to acquire this property was made with long-term growth in mind, ensuring that ENGEL can further increase production capacity if market demand continues to rise.

Increasing production and growing the team

ENGEL will ramp up Mexican production rapidly, strengthening its ability to supply high-quality injection molding machines to customers across the Americas. The facility is designed to support a structured production flow, ensuring the flexibility needed to adapt to evolving market demands.

In addition to increasing production, ENGEL is also expanding its workforce. “We are growing our team significantly to support our manufacturing operations and customer servicein the region, says Nils Mayer, General Manager ENGEL Machinery Mexico.”This investment is not just about expanding our facility, but also about strengthening our expertiseand presence in the local market.”

A strategic investment for the future

The Querétaro facility will undergo a phased modernization to align with ENGEL’s high production standards. As part of a long-term investment plan, ENGEL is implementing key upgrades, including the further expansion of the flow-line manufacturing system, and extended machining capabilities. These improvements will optimize production efficiency while maintaining the company’s renowned quality standards.

ENGEL will manufacture the e-mac (all-electric small machine) and WINTEC t-win (hydraulic, two-platen large machine) series, as well as custom robots and automation solutions at this facility, ensuring a strong production base for these high-demand machines in the region. This investment in local manufacturing will allow ENGEL to better serve customers with tailored solutions and faster delivery times.

“With this expansion, we are well-positioned to meet the growing demand for injection molding machines in the region,” adds Stefan Engleder. “By reducing lead times and strengthening regional support, we are creating sustainable value for our customers. This facility is an important step in our continued expansion across the Americas.”

Long-Term Vision for ENGEL in Mexico

ENGEL views Mexico as a key industrial and production hub. The country offers a strong manufacturing base and skilled workforce, making it an ideal location for long-term investment. Additionally, Mexico and Latin America represent important and growing markets for injection molding technology.

Overall, the Americas continue to gain strategic importance for ENGEL, as they represent the largest addressable market for injection molding machines. With this investment, ENGEL strengthens its ability to meet customer needs efficiently while securing a leading position in the region.

www.engelglobal.com

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Accumold Pushes Micro Molding Boundaries at OFC 2025

Accumold, a world leader in micro molding innovation, is excited to announce its participation at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC) 2025, taking place from March 30 to April 3, 2025, in San Francisco, CA. Attendees can visit Accumold at Booth 5503, where the company will showcase its industry- leading micro molding capabilities, highlighting its extensive experience in micro-optics and high-precision manufacturing for fiber optics and photonics applications.

For 40 years, Accumold has pioneered micro molding technology, successfully delivering cutting-edge solutions across industries. With experience in over 7,000 projects, Accumold’s expertise spans a wide range of applications, including micro molding, insert and overmolding, lead frame molding, microfluidics, thin-wall molding, two-shot micro molding, and micro optics, utilizing nearly every engineering-grade resin and liquid silicone rubber (LSR). These capabilities allow Accumold to support industries requiring ultra-precise, miniaturized plastic components, including fiber optic interconnects, data communications, medical optics, sensors, and emerging photonics applications.

Brett Saddoris, Technical Marketing Manager at Accumold says, “Micro molding offers a scalable and cost-effective alternative to traditional optical manufacturing techniques such as precision glass molding and lithographic processes. Accumold specializes in producing micro-optic components as small as 20 microns, with ultra-tight tolerances and surface finishes capable of meeting the stringent demands of optical performance. With proprietary micro molding technology and vertically integrated operations, Accumold ensures the highest levels of precision, repeatability, and quality. The company’s expertise in high- performance materials and in-house tool fabrication enables the mass production of intricate optical features that are critical for fiber optic transceivers, beam-splitting elements, and optical connectors.”

Emphasizing the importance of early collaboration in achieving superior micro molding results, Saddoris continues, “One of the first questions we are often asked is about our capabilities. For decades, Accumold has been refining and expanding our processes to provide customers with manufacturing excellence. We advocate for early engagement with our team in the design phase to ensure optimal manufacturability and performance. Our experience across a broad range of applications means we understand the unique challenges of micro molding and can help customers navigate them efficiently.”

Accumold operates a 130,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility running 24/7, shipping high-precision components worldwide. This scale of operation allows the company to handle high-volume production demands while maintaining exceptional quality and reliability. As a trusted partner for OEMs in telecommunications, medical, aerospace, and consumer electronics sectors, Accumold remains dedicated to driving innovation in micro molding.

Attendees at OFC 2025 are invited to visit Booth 5503 to explore how Accumold’s micro molding expertise can unlock new possibilities for optical fiber and photonics applications. “OFC is a crucial event for our industry, and we are excited to engage with engineers and decision-makers who are seeking innovative solutions for their optical component needs,” concludes Saddoris.

www.accu-mold.com

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