European plastics manufacturers are facing higher operating costs as elevated energy prices, competition from lower-cost regions and stricter sustainability demands weigh on production economics. The pressure is particularly acute in energy-intensive parts of manufacturing such as plastics processing, where companies are seeking ways to reduce both power consumption and overall production costs.
One area drawing increased attention is the replacement of hydraulic injection moulding machines with all-electric systems. According to FANUC Europe, all-electric machines can reduce energy consumption by double-digit percentages compared with modern hydraulic equipment while also removing the water requirements associated with hydraulic technology. The company said the shift can also improve precision, repeatability and cycle times, while helping reduce scrap rates and factory floor space needs.
David Pinter, an injection moulding machine specialist at FANUC Europe, said efficiency gains extend beyond electricity savings to include lower raw material use and reduced space requirements. He added that smaller machines can also be automated more cost-effectively.
FANUC said its ROBOSHOT injection moulding machines are designed to address those requirements through CNC and servo technology, faster set-up and adjustment, and a compact footprint. The company also said lower mechanical wear, limited maintenance needs and higher residual values can reduce total cost of ownership over a machine’s operating life. It stated that a typical FANUC injection moulding machine remains in use for 15 to 20 years while maintaining high servo efficiency.
The company said ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty in Europe could accelerate the adoption of all-electric injection moulding equipment. FANUC, which says it has 40 years of experience in all-electric injection moulding technology, also pointed to its climate and sustainability ratings, including CDP A-List status for climate change and water security and a Platinum rating from EcoVadis. FANUC Corporation supplies industrial automation products including CNC systems, robots, cobots and production machinery such as ROBODRILL, ROBOCUT and ROBOSHOT.
