All-electric and automation highlights at Pharmapack 2023

Andrew Sargisson, Regional Sales Director (Business Development Medical) at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH

Andrew Sargisson, Regional Sales Director (Business Development Medical) at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH, expresses satisfaction as he reflects on Pharmapack Paris 2023. Hosted at the end of January 2023, approximately 300 exhibitors presented their healthcare and pharmaceutical innovations to approximately 5,000 visitors. "Compared to the event a year ago when the Corona pandemic continued to prevail, we observed a much higher footfall,” he reports. According to Sargisson, the international scope of guests in particular increased, with the European region dominating overall.

Despite the current macroeconomic uncertainties caused by the Ukraine war, the mood of visitors to the Sumitomo (SHI) Demag booth was positive, with a number of interesting discussions held regarding future projects. "Many companies shared optimism about the future," says Sargisson. Although conversations centred on the energy crisis, with its extensive range of all-electric machinery, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag showcased how well-placed it is to address this issue. Micro-moulding and LSR were the other application focus areas for visitors. "We offer ample solutions for both," states the medical expert with conviction.

Of notable interest was the all-electric IntElect series in the medium clamp force range (between 100 and 220 tons), which Sargisson revealed really appealed to the medical market. He expands: “Given our medical competence and ability to mould applications with extremely tight tolerances in large volumes, this series places us in the strongest position within the sector. Our high-precision direct drive technology ensures greater repeatability and consequently medical components of the highest quality. Notably, these machines are clean, fast and quiet."

Curiosity about the new PAC-E machine, unveiled globally at K 2022, was equally strong. A new innovation blending the company’s energy efficient all-electric injection moulding machine with the exceptional high speed El-Exis SP range offers a glimpse into the future. The market appetite for the imminent roll out of this system is extraordinarily high, notes Sargisson.

Continuous additions to the automation solutions provided another big draw. "Many visitors are gaining a greater understanding of our expertise in automation. Engineered specifically for the plastics production environment, alongside the SAM-C series featuring cartesian kinematics, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has now added to its automation portfolio with the launch of the SAM-S, a 6-axis hybrid Scara and linear robot. Providing future-proof automation options from a single supplier,” adds the medical specialist.