BMW adds More Injection Moulding Machinery at Leipzig Facility

Engel Austria has won the contract to supply system solutions to BMW’s Leipzig factory, where ENGEL duo injection moulding machines are used to manufacture car body shell components for the BMW i3 electric vehicle.

Engel is a supplier of lightweight solutions for the international automotive industry. At its technology centre for lightweight composites, which opened in 2012 in St Valentin, Austria, the company develops new technologies and processes for the manufacture of fibre-reinforced composite material in conjunction with partner companies and universities.

The latest order from the German car manufacturer includes two large-scale Engel duo machines with 40,000 kN clamping force integrated as a double system. In master/slave mode, both machines can be synchronised to injection mould and complete two components at the same time. This manufacturing principle makes sure that both components undergo exactly the same material aging process and that the high quality requirements are met.

As the general contractor for the manufacturing cells, the company has taken responsibility for incorporating automation into the entire system. Both machines are fitted with a multi-axis robot.