ENGEL AUSTRIA GmbH has unveiled the duo 5500 combi M, the world’s largest technical center injection molding machine, at its expanded technical center in St. Valentin, Austria. This machine, part of ENGEL’s standard portfolio, boasts a clamping force of 55,000 kN, measuring 32 meters long, 13 meters wide, 6.8 meters high, and weighing 545 tons. It is designed to accommodate molds up to 150 tons and shot weights up to 42 kg.
The duo 5500 combi M is intended to address the increasing demands of the automotive industry and technical injection molding. “We aim to enable technologies and components in completely new dimensions,” an ENGEL representative stated. This state-of-the-art machine supports the automotive sector’s trend toward larger plastic parts, which help reduce vehicle weight, enhance fuel efficiency, and lower production costs. Plastics offer design flexibility, corrosion resistance, and the integration of functional elements, contributing to vehicle longevity and safety.
The new machine facilitates the production of large plastic components, which were previously manufactured using alternative processes with notable limitations. With the duo 5500 combi M, ENGEL provides extensive possibilities for part and technology development. This reinforces ENGEL’s role as a key enabler of new technologies, allowing customers to explore new dimensions in injection molding.
The machine supports various material combinations and technologies, including clearmelt (coating visible parts with PUR), foamelt (foam injection molding for lightweight construction), organomelt (long glass fiber or tape reinforcement), coinmelt (compression injection molding), optimelt (high-quality optical parts), combimelt (multi-color injection molding), and foilmelt (back-injection of decorative/functional films).
The duo 5500 combi M features two movable horizontal injection units and a combi M injection unit, along with two six-axis ENGEL easix articulated robots for flexible automation. For PU applications, it includes two Cannon systems and a dosing unit for coloring polyurethanes. All digital assistance systems from ENGEL are integrated into the machine control, ensuring energy-efficient and sustainable production while optimizing processes.
ENGEL’s extensive expertise in building large injection molding machines benefits its customers, as it underscores the company’s commitment to technological leadership and innovation. By installing a machine of this magnitude, ENGEL emphasizes its dedication to innovation, sustainability, and customer orientation.
The expanded technical center with the duo 5500 combi M reaffirms ENGEL’s role as a leading hub for testing new technologies and collaborating with the industry. Manufacturers of large, complex plastic parts and toolmakers can now test feasibility and implementation early in the project stage, significantly reducing go-to-market time and avoiding costly errors by identifying potential issues early on.