The world’s largest MuCell system has started operations at German tool and mould manufacturer Mürdter (Mutlangen / Germany; www.muerdter.de) – as part of a cooperative partnership involving machinery maker KraussMaffei (KM, Munich / Germany; www.kraussmaffei.com) and Trexel (Woburn, Massachusetts / USA; www.trexel.com), which pioneered the MuCell process in the late 1990s. The three companies have started producing large components at Mürdter’s headquarters in Mutlangen, comparing the end result to components made by standard injection moulding and those using MuCell technology.

To this end, they have commissioned what they claim is the “world’s largest injection moulding machine”, an MC 5400-17200 with 5,400 t of clamping force for physical foaming. Commenting on the cooperation, KraussMaffei’s MuCell product manager Andreas Handschke said, “MuCell technology is an excellent solution for very large components because, apart from the general advantages, such as minimal deformation, shorter cycle times and lower clamping force, the material savings, above all, and weight reduction of the component play an important role.”

As part of the cooperation, the three companies offer customers assistance in component design as well as production solutions.