North-American and Japanese plastics converters have been using all-electric injection moulding machines since they were introduced in the first half of the 1990s. More than 20 manufacturers are now believed to be able to supply these machines, which are gaining even more and more ground. According to reliable estimates, nearly 8,000 units are installed in both markets. In Japan, most top qualitymachines with clamp forces in the range of 200-2,500 kN are of this type.

Europe is still lagging behind with no more than 800 electirc machines in service, although Italian manufacturer Bodini Presse (Via U. Foscolo, 11, I-21023 Besozzo VA) currently produces nearly 60 “Eledrive” machines per year with clamp forces in the range 250-1,500 kN. Compared with conventional (oil-pressure) machines, the electric machines have three main advantages: they save energy because engines stop in absence of motion; they protect the environment by not consuming oil; additionally, there is a sharp decrease of sound pollution.