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At Chinaplas 2026, the international plastics and rubber exhibition held in Shanghai from April 21 to 24, 2026, the injection molding manufacturer ENGEL Group will showcase a range of on-site production solutions to address these practical manufacturing challenges. The focus of the exhibition is to help processors improve production efficiency, stabilize product quality, reduce operating costs, and explore new application opportunities. Through the two brands of ENGEL and WINTEC, the Engel Group combines these complementary brands into one, remaining true to the same commitment: to help customers choose the right production solutions based on their specific application needs, business priorities, and investment strategies. Among them, ENGEL focuses on highly integrated, application-specific system solutions, while WINTEC offers robust, standardized, and cost-effective production solutions. Six sets of on-site demonstration exhibits will serve as strong proof: ranging from automotive surface finishing and lightweight components to packaging, medical applications, liquid silicone rubber (LSR), MuCell® microcellular technology, and AI-based assistance systems, these exhibits illustrate how processors transform technology into tangible production benefits – such as shortened processing times, reduced material consumption, less waste, improved system availability, and more efficient use of machinery and human resources. Automotive surface finishing: improving surface quality while reducing the number of processing steps. Customer expectations for automotive exterior parts are constantly rising, and processors need to meet these demands while keeping investment costs and process complexity under control. ENGEL presented an automotive production unit based on the ENGELduo700 two-plate injection molding machine (used for B-pillar trim), demonstrating how surface finishing can be integrated directly into the injection molding process. This fully automatic three-component injection molding unit features a clamping force of 7000 kN, and it utilizes the ENGEL clearmelt technology to combine component production with coating in one process. By applying a coating to the components directly in the mold, the ENGEL clearmelt technology shortens the process chain and effectively reduces investment costs. Meanwhile, this technology can produce high-quality scratch-resistant surfaces with self-healing properties. The material of this component is polycarbonate and ABS; its weight is 260 grams, with an additional 90 grams of polyurethane coating. The injection molding unit is equipped with an ENGELeasix articulated robot, integrated into the CC300 control system, for part removal. The total cycle time is 90 seconds, and the duo two-plate injection molding machine used features a wide template design. This production scheme is particularly suitable for components that require a wider mold plate under the same clamping force. Automotive lightweighting: Reducing the weight, material usage, and required machine specifications in the production of hollow components. The second automotive exhibit focuses on the challenge of decreasing component weight and material consumption without compromising their functionality. This exhibit demonstrates the process of manufacturing an intake manifold using an ENGELvictory120 injection molding machine without tie rods, which employs fluidmelt technology (clamping force of 1,200 kN). Using the ENGELfluidmelt technology, hollow structures can be produced by injecting water or gas. During this process, the molten core of the component is pushed into the overflow chamber or returned to the plasticizing unit, thereby creating a cavity inside the component. At the Chinaplas exhibition, this process will be demonstrated using inflation and overflow chambers. The component being demonstrated is a PA66 composite containing 30% glass fibers; the injection weight per part is 166 grams, and the cycle time is 50 seconds. This production unit is automated by the ENGELviper linear robot, which is fully integrated into the control system of the CC300 equipment. The rodless victory120 injection molding machine used is particularly suitable for complex and large molds due to the absence of obstructions in the mold area, and it also facilitates the access of automation devices. Thanks to the large-size template and tie-bar-free technology, a machine with a clamping force of 1,200 kN is sufficient, whereas traditional injection molding machines require a clamping force of 1,800 kN. This helps reduce equipment investment costs and improve the efficiency of factory space utilization. Packaging: Achieving high production volumes, consistent quality, and cost control in compact spaces – in the packaging industry, profitability depends on the ability to maintain high production rates and short cycles using molds with large cavities, while simultaneously ensuring stable quality of the components. ENGEL has introduced a fully electric production solution based on the e-mac380 machine with a clamping force of 3800 kN. This solution uses a 48-cavity mold from Cartisan Company to produce flip-top lids composed of 90% HDPE and 10% LDPE. This production scheme combines high output with precise process control, and is suitable for scenarios involving a large number of mold cavities, short cycles, and where reproducible quality determines cost efficiency. Fully electric e-mac devices meet these requirements through precise motion sequences, high repeat accuracy, and energy-efficient operation. The weight of a single piece for the application shown is 2.5 grams; the amount injected per time is 120 grams, and the cycle time is 12 seconds. For processors, the overall performance of this solution in terms of energy efficiency, stable process control with multi-cavity molds, compact design, and integrated automation helps to maintain stable large-scale production while controlling unit costs. Healthcare: Stable, clean, and cost-effective production for large-scale applications is essential in the manufacturing of healthcare products; processors need the ability to handle components with consistency and in a clean environment, as well as the capacity for large-scale production. WINTEC, a brand under the ENGEL Group known for its reliable and cost-effective standardized solutions, will present an all-electric production solution utilizing an e-win3200 injection molding machine with a clamping force of 3200 kN. The compact e-win device uses a 48-cavity mold from TK Company to produce 10ml syringe barrels with high precision; the material is polypropylene, and the weight of each unit is 4.6 grams. To achieve a short cycle time of just 10 seconds and clean transportation, the components are dropped onto a covered Z-shaped conveyor belt by free fall. This production scheme combines precise manufacturing capabilities, a compact equipment design, and controlled component handling. For medical product processors, it helps achieve high repeatability and cleanliness within compact units, while maintaining production efficiency and cost controllability in large-scale production. The WINTEC e-win series offers fully electric injection molding solutions characterized by precise and synchronized movements, a robust structure, high energy efficiency, and short delivery times. As a standardized solution platform, this series enables stable process operations, high production efficiency, and long-term confidence in equipment investment. Liquid silicone rubber (LSR): Reduces manual intervention through automated production and post-treatment. LSR applications require precise molding, gentle demolding, and consistent handling methods, while processors aim to minimize manual effort and control process costs. WINTEC presented a fully electric production solution using the e-win1800 machine with a clamping force of 1800 kN, for precise applications involving liquid silicone rubber. This process produces seals for electric vehicle connectors, with a single-shot weight of 37.8 grams and a cycle time of 60 seconds. The production cell operates fully automatically using an integrated ENGELviper linear robot, which gently removes the parts from the mold with special brushes. By directly integrating automated operations and post-processing within the unit, this solution helps processors produce precise LSR components with less manual intervention and greater process consistency. MuCell: Reduces material usage and unit cost for larger-sized components. The larger the component size, the more directly material usage, weight, cycle time, and floor space affect competitiveness. WINTEC presented a production solution using the t-win6500 two-plate injection molding machine with a clamping force of 6,500 kN. By utilizing physical foaming technology for the production of mini refrigerator frames, it is possible to manufacture complex internal structural components in a lighter weight and at a cost that is under control. The use of MuCell technology can shorten the cycle time, reduce weight and material consumption, thereby continuously lowering unit costs. In the physical foaming process, material savings of up to 40% can be achieved depending on the application. The MuCell process uses nitrogen or carbon dioxide, which is introduced into the polymer melt. The screw geometry optimized for MuCell® ensures uniform gas distribution, thereby creating a fine cell structure in the mold. As a result, the components are lighter in weight, exhibit high dimensional stability, and maintain good surface quality, making them suitable for applications where appearance is important. In the application demonstrated at Chinaplas, the material processed was a PP composite containing 20% glass fibers. The weight of the part was 558 grams, with a cycle time of 45 seconds. WINTEC’s t-win series features a robust two-plate design, suitable for large molds and applications requiring high clamping force. Short-stroke pressure pads help achieve short cycles, synchronized mode locking, as well as fast operation and lower energy consumption of the servo-hydraulic drive system. Higher energy efficiency, a compact footprint, and optimized maintenance convenience help to reduce overall operating costs and enable a quicker return on investment. WINTEC’s injection molding unit is equipped with an intuitively operated C3 control system. This system supports precise process control with high performance. Additionally, the new viper20 linear manipulator is fully integrated into the control system; it handles component manipulation, thereby reducing the workload on operators. The close integration of the robotic arm and the equipment within the same control system improves production stability and reduces cycle times by optimizing the sequence of actions. injectAI: Improves process stability, equipment availability, and cost efficiency. As production environments become increasingly complex, processors need greater process transparency, faster response times, and more consistent quality. Through injectAI, ENGEL has added AI-based functions to its existing iQ assistance system, and further developed the mature inject4.0 platform into an interconnected and self-learning production environment. This capability will be demonstrated in person at the expert corner in the exhibition booth. The 4.0 platform will further evolve into an interconnected production environment with self-learning capabilities. This capability will be demonstrated in person at the expert corner in the exhibition booth. Solutions such as flowcontrol, iQmeltcontrol, and iQmotioncontrol are already able to intervene directly in the manufacturing process and automatically adjust parameters related to quality and efficiency. For example, iQweightcontrol can compensate in real time for fluctuations in material viscosity, ensuring consistency in component quality. iQclampcontrol dynamically adjusts the locking force, thereby reducing the stress on the mold and lowering energy consumption. iQflowcontrol stabilizes the temperature control process, while iQmeltcontrol monitors the plasticization process and detects process deviations at an early stage. For processors, this means having a fairly comprehensive set of auxiliary systems that can not only stabilize the manufacturing process but also continuously optimize it. iQprocessobserver uses artificial intelligence to analyze over 1000 process parameters simultaneously, identifying deviations at an early stage and providing specific operational recommendations. In addition, ENGELVirtualAssistant can provide expert knowledge related to equipment on the spot, with AI-based applications such as the part finder (which allows for quick identification of spare parts from photos) offering further support. Overall, the system improved the cost efficiency of production by reducing waste, increasing equipment availability, and making more efficient use of equipment and human resources. Two brands, one promise: to provide the right manufacturing solutions for each customer’s needs. Within the ENGEL Group, ENGEL and WINTEC cater to different customer requirements. ENGEL is targeted at application scenarios that require a high level of integration, process expertise, and customized system solutions. WINTEC focuses on robust, standardized, and cost-controlled injection molding solutions. This complementary product portfolio enables processors to flexibly choose the solution that best suits their applications, production environment, and investment strategy. For injection molding processors, this means they can obtain technically optimized production solutions aimed at improving production efficiency, process stability, cost control, and long-term competitiveness.