Refit of injection moulding machines and extruders
The plastics sector has the largest bankruptcy cluster of any industry: Battenfeld (2008), Demag Ergotech (2008), Ferromatik Milacron (2009). GCG replaces the controller on all these machines regardless of manufacturer, active in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Czech Republic.
The plastics bankruptcy cluster: what does it mean for your machine?
Between 2008 and 2010, four major independent injection moulding machine manufacturers went into insolvency or were acquired: Battenfeld (2008), Demag Plastics Group (2008), Ferromatik Milacron (2009) and Husky E-Line (division sold). KraussMaffei changed ownership several times (ChemChina 2016) and restricted legacy support. The result is a large installed base of machines whose controllers no longer receive service and can no longer get spare parts.
GCG replaces the controller on all these machines regardless of manufacturer. Machine mechanics and tooling are preserved. The machine stays productive for another 10–15 years at roughly 20% of the cost of a new machine.
Injection moulding controllers GCG replaces
Battenfeld
Battenfeld went into insolvency in 2008 and was acquired by Wittmann. Machines with the Unilog 4000 controller no longer receive OEM support. GCG replaces Unilog 4000 with Siemens S7-1500 + WinCC.
Engel CC90/CC100
Engel is active but no longer supports the CC90 and CC100 generation. Large installed base in Czech Republic and Poland. GCG replaces the CC90/CC100 controller as an independent refit partner.
Demag Ergotech
Demag Plastics Group went into insolvency in 2008. The NC4 controller, an S5 derivative running on an S5 HMI, is end-of-life. GCG converts NC4 logic to Siemens S7-1500 and modernises the HMI to WinCC or B&R.
Ferromatik Milacron
Milacron filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2009. Ferromatik Milacron GmbH in Malterdingen lost its service organisation. GCG replaces the controller and preserves the machine mechanics.
KraussMaffei
KraussMaffei changed ownership several times (ChemChina 2016) and restricted after-sales support for older MC3/MC4 generations. GCG replaces MC3/MC4 with B&R or Siemens S7-1500.
Husky E-Line
Husky sold the E-line preform division. The controller on E-line PET preform systems is end-of-life. GCG replaces the E-line controller with Siemens or B&R, keeping cycle time settings intact.
S5 → S7: Demag NC4 and Battenfeld BC fleet
The Demag NC4 and early Battenfeld BC controllers are S5 derivatives. See the S5 → S7 migration overview.
S5 → S7 migration →S7-300 phase-out in injection moulding plants
Many mid-generation injection moulding machine refits now run on S7-300, which is also end-of-life. See the S7-300 phase-out overview.
S7-300 phase-out →Completed refit projects
Completed refit projects in the injection moulding sector, in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Czech Republic.
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