Addressing the crucial matter of energy efficiency, the European association of plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers Euromap (Frankfurt / Germany; www.euromap.org) has revised its "EUROMAP 60" guidelines on machine related energy measurement for injection moulding machines to allow for comparability between both machines and processes. The new version enables customers to compare machines from different manufacturers on the basis of uniform parameters, Euromap says. Specifically, this aspect of energy efficiency classification is based on two test cycles that take into account the characteristics of both fast-running machinery as well as very small machines. The new classes identified by this procedure have established benchmarks that allow clients to make a pre-selection, the association said.

The other addition to the better and improved “EUROMAP 60” guidelines affords transparency in product-related energy consumption for the manufacture of specific injection-moulded parts to customer specifications. The key factor here is the energy consumption in kilowatt-hours per kilogramme of plastic processed.

Commenting on the new classification scheme, Karlheinz Bourdon, vice president Technologies at KraussMaffei Technologies, said, “The ability to distinguish between machine-related and product-related energy measurement will enable us to meet both political targets and customer demands.” Given the success of the guidelines, several experts have now started working on drawing up similar recommendations for extrusion, blow-moulding and thermoforming machines, Euromap said.