Shep Plastics
SHEP PLASTICS BENEFITS FROM MOULDING MACHINES WITH PROVEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY CAPABILITY

A number of pressing reasons – not the least, the Climate Change Levy – is requiring Sussex custom moulder Shep Plastics to install machinery with a proven record of energy efficiency. A typical example, and latest addition to the company’s moulding shop, is a Sandretto ‘Serie Nove’ 300 tonne. In replacing a 320 tonne machine it is also providing considerably greater production capacity through having a larger platen area and improved control and processing capabilities.

Shep Plastics has “always been prepared to invest money in technology" states CEO Malcolm Bradshaw. “We are maintaining our progress towards a Sandretto workshop; with the new 300 tonne, 14 of our17 machines are now Sandrettos.”

It is indicative of the urgent need for increased throughput whilst, at the same time, reducing manufacturing costs, that more mouldings are now being produced from fewer machines compared with six years ago when the company operated over 20 injection machines.

Around 40% of Shep Plastics’ final turnover comprises down-stream, added value work, notably printing, various welding techniques and general assembly. For many years, a substantial proportion of Shep Plastics’ production has been exported, mostly as part of the products manufactured by customers. The continuing growth in the order book over the last six months has maintained this pattern and, currently, 65% of output finds itself in mainland Europe. Malcolm Bradshaw remarks that new customers are largely from within a radius of 100 miles from the company’s Hailsham factory.

"We also pride ourselves in our high level of technical quality and we continue to offer a full design facility to customers” continues Malcolm Bradshaw. “We have ISO 9002 certification and are working towards ISO 9001 to cover the design capability. We also expect to have ‘Investors in People’ by the year end – our investment in the future!"

• Wheelie Bin Production

The machine we are proposing has been specifically developed to produce the classic 240 litres wheelie bin and it is just the result of past and recent experiences in this application.

It is important to underline that the cycle time shown after in this report will be strongly effected by the mould performance and consequently this would be a point of discussion with the customer.

The technical specs of the bin are:

240 litres wheelie bin body
Wall section: 4mm
Shot Weight: 8,913 Kg
Material: HDPE (usually MFI= 4-5 dg/min)

The usual technical specs required to the machine are:

1. A clamping force of 1750 ton, a clamping stroke of 2100 mm and platen dimensions able to accept a mould of dimensions 1500x1500x1650 mm.
2. A very generous injection unit due to low HDPE melted density and consequently high volume to be transformed, able to inject at high injection pressure (i.e. 1800 bar) due to the depth of the bin and the most reduced thickness of the wall.
3. The shortest cycle time compatible with the mould performance (70 to 65 seconds).
4. The lowest power consumption possible.

Sandretto Dedicated Press and Cycle Time

Just making treasure of our experience in this field and thanks also to our brand new range of high tonnage presses, we are glad to present a dedicated machine as per following short description...

Just summarizing the performances, we are proposing a press with high injection pressure, high injection speed, dedicated screw for high productivity, electric screw drive for maximum overlapping of plasticising to the mould movements and further reduction of power consumption and the following cycle time: