At Plastics Live Ireland, stand D7, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag marks a significant milestone in electric innovation. Celebrating 15 years of its IntElect series, the company presents the “Today. Tomorrow. Electric.” message, highlighting advancements in energy-efficient injection moulding machines featuring proprietary Sumitomo drive technology.
First introduced at K 2010, the IntElect series has undergone multiple iterations, enhancing power savings and processing precision without sacrificing speed. Technical Sales Manager Kris Thacker attributes the series’ popularity and energy efficiency to its exceptional torque, smooth dynamics, and advanced direct drive motors, originally developed for the medical and electrical precision markets.
The all-electric IntElect series quickly set new standards for energy-efficient injection moulding, gaining industry acclaim for its repeatability, speed, precision, and efficiency. Ireland, with its strong medical, bio-science, and consumer industries, was among the earliest adopters of all-electric technologies, driven by decarbonisation efforts.
Initially, standard IntElect models were designed to handle tasks traditionally managed by hydraulic machines, while a high-performance variant addressed more demanding, fast-cycle moulding applications. Today’s models are more refined, often paying for themselves within two years through energy savings and repeatability.
Mid-decade, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag introduced the smart NC5 colour touchscreen and the Active series of hardware and software modules, including activeLock and activeFlowBalance, which improved machine precision and reduced mould rejects.
Kris Thacker emphasises the continuous quality maintained throughout the IntElect series’ lifecycle, noting its critical advantage. Subsequent developments included the launch of the mid-size IntElect S, targeting high-volume packaging, medical, and automotive markets with high processing precision and fast cycle times.
The S series introduced optimised tool movement, injection and ejector movements, and metering speed, outperforming previous generations. At K 2019, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag unveiled LSR and multicomponent versions, plus a medical machine enhancing dosing and injection performance for small components.
Adhering to ISO 13485 standards, the IntElect S 180-ton introduced user parameters to prevent unauthorised process adjustments. The “Today. Tomorrow. Electric.” slogan at K 2025 marked the next phase of all-electric adoption, with exhibits demonstrating processing scalability and improved energy, waste, and sustainability outcomes.
The significant development of PAC-E highlights the evolution of all-electric technology. As Sumitomo (SHI) Demag celebrates this 15-year milestone, the company continues to integrate electric processing insights with expertise in high-speed packaging and medical processing, reinforcing its position as a leader in all-electric innovations.
