On October 8, the world’s leading plastics exhibition — K 2025 International Plastics and Rubber Trade Fair — kicked off in Düsseldorf, Germany. Under the theme “Level Up! Your Advantage”, Haitian International made a grand appearance at Hall 15, Booth A57, showcasing its comprehensive “Injection Molding +” solutions. With multidimensional technological innovations, Haitian empowers customers worldwide to achieve all-round value enhancement.

On the opening day, the Haitian International booth welcomed a continuous stream of professional visitors and technical experts, engaging in lively face-to-face discussions with Haitian’s team on process details. Haitian engineers, professional and attentive, moved between machines explaining key parameters and turning technical data into service commitments, allowing visitors to experience the powerful rhythm of intelligent manufacturing in real operation.

At this year’s exhibition, Haitian International focused on four key industries — packaging, medical, automotive, and optical — presenting five intelligently designed application scenarios. Through multidimensional displays of production efficiency, flexible integration, digital intelligence, and industry expansion, the company guided visitors into a new vision of smart manufacturing.

Stepping into the booth, the two world premiere packaging models — Zhafir Zeres F all-electric packaging machine and Haitian Mars F PRO servo-hydraulic high-speed machine — immediately became the highlight of the show. With their exceptional performance, they drew crowds of visitors who witnessed the technological innovation and performance leap in the packaging industry.

The Zhafir Zeres Series medical injection molding solution for COC syringe barrels showcased full-process traceability, highlighting the cleanliness and precision demanded by the medical industry and drawing strong interest from professionals exploring collaboration opportunities. Meanwhile, the Haitian Jupiter two-platen machine’s “one-step molding” technology for automotive exterior parts also became a major highlight of the show, earning high praise from visitors for its outstanding performance in improving production efficiency and product consistency.

At the same time, Niigata’s all-electric vertical injection molding machine made its debut at the show, presenting a new solution for optical insert molding. The exhibit opened up new possibilities for high-precision molding and drew strong attention from industry professionals, who watched closely and nodded in appreciation.

In addition, high-precision CNC machines and integrated automation solutions from Haitian Precision and Haitian Smart Solutions were also showcased, presenting a comprehensive “Injection Molding +” system solution. Together, they demonstrated Haitian Machinery’s deep expertise and forward-looking innovation in the field of intelligent manufacturing.

From the outstanding performance of individual machines to the flexible integration between systems and the development of a complete industrial ecosystem, Haitian Machinery is driving a full value-chain upgrade for customers worldwide. Through cross-field synergy, systematic innovation, and turnkey solutions, the company transforms its philosophy of “Creating Value, Expanding Advantage” into tangible benefits for its global partners.

K 2025 will continue until October 15. In the days ahead, Haitian International will remain open and welcoming at Hall 15, Booth A57, greeting all industry peers committed to progress and technological advancement. We look forward to your visit — or to your continued attention to our online coverage.

No matter how you reach us, Haitian International remains dedicated to the same focus and respect — turning every injection, every set of technical parameters, and every traceable record into a lasting mark of efficiency, quality, and sustainable advancement in your factory.

From August 1 to 2, the Haitian International Medical Industry Technology Center Open Day was successfully held in Suzhou, attracting over 200 industry experts, partners, and customer representatives. With the theme “Breaking Boundaries, Creating Value Together,” the event focused on technological innovation and collaborative applications in the field of medical injection molding. Through cutting-edge technology forums and live machine demonstrations, Haitian International showcased its high-end solutions for medical manufacturing.

At the beginning of the event, Mr. Zhu Hongguo, Director of the Medical Industry Division, delivered the opening speech. He welcomed all guests and shared insights on the technical challenges and collaboration opportunities in the medical sector.

Over the course of the two-day event, six thematic forums brought together cutting-edge topics in medical injection molding. In-depth discussions covered Haitian’s integrated PVC solutions for medical applications, the role of high-precision molds in emerging product trends, smart manufacturing solutions from Haitian Smart Solutions for the medical industry, the development outlook and market strategies in the insulin infusion sector, how RJG supports OEE improvement in medical injection molding, and how fundamental logic in polymer materials drives functional breakthroughs in medical applications. The sessions sparked active engagement and insightful questions from attendees.

At the event, Haitian International showcased eight precision injection molding solutions tailored for medical applications, covering the full spectrum of demands from micro components to large-scale devices. The demonstration area attracted a constant stream of visitors eager to observe the machines in action.

Notably, the fifth-generation Zhafir series features advanced precision molding technologies such as PDC (Precision Dosing Control), IFC (Inertial Filling Control), and OFC (Optimal Force Control). These innovations significantly enhance production stability and deliver outstanding performance in high-precision micro molding for medical applications, earning unanimous praise and recognition from attendees and industry experts alike.

On August 15th, Haitian Mexico held a grand Open Day in Guadalajara, Mexico. This event not only allowed local customers to learn about Haitian International’s latest technological innovations but also served as a comprehensive display of the company’s commitment to deeply rooting into the local market and strengthening localized delivery and service capabilities.

1. Localized Operations Stressed to Build Global Competitiveness

The event kicked off with traditional Mexican music, creating a lively and culturally rich atmosphere. At the event, Mr. Xu Biyun, General Manager of Haitian Mexico, delivered a speech, detailing Haitian Machinery’s global strategy and emphasizing the crucial role of Haitian Mexico as a regional center in enhancing localized operations and customer service.

Mr. Xu emphasized that Haitian International is a global leader in injection molding machine manufacturing, constantly driving product innovation and iteration based on market demands. Leveraging Haitian group’s layout in multiple fields from CNC machines, to die casting, laser machinery, drive technology, and smart manufacturing, Haitian is able to provide one-stop solutions in the machinery and equipment sector.

In recent years, the company has continuously deepened its overseas development strategy, actively establishing regional management centers, manufacturing centers, as well as application and service experience centers in key global markets. This is to fully meet the region-specific needs of local markets, earning the trust of many overseas benchmark customers and go-global Chinese enterprises through a well-established localized supply chain and efficient, convenient local services and support.

Haitian Mexico is a crucial part of Haitian’s global strategy. Serving as a regional management and manufacturing center for the Americas, Haitian Mexico has gradually expanded its market influence and localized delivery capabilities since its operation in 2022. It not only serves the Mexican market but also gradually extends its coverage to the entire Americas. Through this hub, Haitian can respond more quickly to the needs of customers in the Americas, providing one-stop solutions, thereby further enhancing customer satisfaction.

2. A Technical Feast: from Solution Demonstrated to Client Interaction

During the Open Day, Haitian Mexico showcased several injection molding solutions designed for the Americas market, including the Haitian MA2000V/750, Haitian JU5500V/3450, Zhafir ZE1500V-300, and Zhafir VE1900Ⅲ-640h, covering various application fields such as automotive, home appliances, and consumer electronics. These solutions fully demonstrated Haitian’s continuous iteration and optimization in injection molding technology around areas of interest to customers, such as energy efficiency, intelligence, and sustainability, drawing the attention of many industry experts and customers. Additionally, products from other Haitian Group divisions, such as CNC machines, die-casting machines, and smart manufacturing one-stop solutions, were also showcased.

At the event, Haitian Mexico’s technical experts provided detailed demonstrations of the equipment’s innovative features and user-friendly operations, engaging in in-depth technical exchanges with customers. This allowed customers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Haitian’s products and services, not only deepening their understanding of Haitian’s advanced injection molding technology but also fully appreciating Haitian’s strategic vision and professional capabilities in perfecting the industry chain.

3. Looking Ahead: Strategic Vision and Forward-looking Planning

In the future, Haitian Mexico will continue to refine its strategic layout as a regional center, continuously deepening its delivery and service capabilities in the local market. It is committed to focusing on the personalized needs of local customers, providing more efficient and energy-saving solutions, and helping customers stand out in a highly competitive market. Together with customers and partners, Haitian Mexico aims to establish long-term, stable cooperative relationships, jointly promoting the development of related industries in Mexico and surrounding regions to shape a better future.

Founded in Shenzhen in 2005, Zhejiang Bicom Optics Co., Ltd. specializes in the precise manufacturing of optical components, focusing on high-quality optical products for the LED lighting, automotive lighting, and security industries. With a robust array of over 130 injection molding machines, BICOM’s annual output value has exceeded 300 million RMB. This success has earned them widespread recognition and cooperation from numerous internationally renowned automotive lighting manufacturers, including Marelli, Hella, and Valeo, continuously showcasing strong growth momentum and market competitiveness.

Recently, we had the privilege to visit BICOM and embark on a journey exploring optics with General Manager Zhou Yun.

1. Optical journey: Customized Solutions Lead Transformation

Since its inception in 2005, BICOM has focused on the design and manufacture of optical components, particularly in the fields of LED and automotive lighting. The manufacturing of optical components demands extremely high precision and stability from the equipment. Facing the market’s stringent requirements for high precision, high transparency, and weather resistance of optical products, BICOM began seeking more specialized solutions.

In 2015, leveraging its extensive technical expertise and profound understanding of optical products, Zhafir custom-designed a series of optical-specific machines for BICOM. These machines not only ensured the optical performance and quality of products like optical lenses but also demonstrated exceptional scalability and stability.

As a result, BICOM began extensively adopting Zhafir’s all-electric optical-specific machines to replace the previous general-purpose injection molding machines. Currently, Zhafir’s all-electric optical-specific machines account for more than half of the factory’s equipment, significantly enhancing production efficiency and product quality, thereby boosting market competitiveness.

2. Specialized Customization: Upgrades in Optical Manufacturing

With the rise of the new energy vehicle industry, the design of automotive light guides has become increasingly complex, demanding higher flexibility and adaptability from injection molding machines. Zhafir’s custom-designed optical-specific machines for BICOM have adeptly met the production needs of irregular molds and transparent optical products. Their specialized design and configuration have brought a qualitative leap to manufacturing.

The specialized machines offer not only ultra-large mold capacity but also flexible injection units that can select different screw capacities based on the actual weight of the products, achieving optimal process control. This is particularly important in the light guide industry.

Zhafir’s all-electric optical-specific machines have also undergone customized improvements to core components based on BICOM’s actual usage. For screws, an optical-grade screw was developed to effectively prevent quality issues such as product yellowing and black spots, meeting the high standards of transparency and quality required for optical products. For motors, a high-load design was adopted to address the overheating problem of traditional motors during long-term operation, ensuring the continuity and stability of the injection process. Additionally, this motor design provides strong support for producing thick-walled optical products.

Over the years, Zhafir’s customized services andtechnological innovations have perfectly aligned withBlCOM’s needs. Each upgrade reflects an unwaveringpursuit of optical performance, providing a solidfoundation for BlCOM’s technological leadership andmarket competitiveness in the optical componentmanufacturing field.

At the intersection of light and technology, the storyof Zhafir and BlcOM continues. In the future, we wilcontinue to work hand in hand, tirelessly striving fo)technologicalinnovation,advancing the manufacturing technology of optical components, and continuously exploring newapplications ofinjection moldingtechnology in optics. This collaboration aims to pro.vide new ideas and solutions for the development ofighting systems in new energy vehicles.

Changzhou Nanyuan Plastic Co., Ltd., founded in 1991, covers an area of 48,000 square meters. It is a private enterprise specializing in the production and sales of plastic cap products, as well as the design and manufacture of plastic cap molds and blow mold barrels. Nanyuan serves multiple sectors including petrochemicals, food and beverages, and medical industries.

With its keen market insight and continuous innovation, Nanyuan Plastics has successfully set a benchmark in the plastic cap industry. Recently, we had the privilege to visit this industry-leading company to discuss the development trends of the plastic cap industry and engage in an in-depth exchange on cutting-edge injection molding technologies.

1. From Hydraulic to Electric

At this point, Nanyuan discovered Zhafir electric injection molding machines from Haitian International. Nanyuan quickly favored Zhafir machines for their efficiency, stability, and cleanliness.

2. A Win-Win of Greenness & Products

Driven by the “dual carbon” goals and domestic environmental policies, the packaging industry is trending towards thinner and lighter products. As product weight decreases, the requirements for injection molding machine stability and injection speed increase.

The stability and injection speed of Zhafir electric machines enable Nanyuan to easily meet these challenges. This results in lighter products, significant reductions in production cycle time, increased yield, reduced resource waste, and compliance with environmental regulations, achieving a win-win for both product upgrades and environmental protection.

3. Intelligent Upgrade & New Production

Additionally, Nanyuan has adopted the “Go Factory Pro” intelligent operation system from Haitian Smart Solutions, integrating intelligence into every production stage. Through Haitian Smart Solutions’ intelligent scheduling and real-time monitoring functions, Nanyuan can more accurately track production progress and product quality. This system ensures stable pressure and temperature during normal operation and allows for timely detection and resolution of production issues through data analysis. As a result, product stability and yield are effectively improved, bringing significant benefits to the company and raising product quality to a new level.

Over the years, Nanyuan Plastics has become aleader in the plastic cap manufacturing field, drivenby its persistent pursuit of quality and forward-looking technological vision. lts advanced productionmodel and excellent product quality have garneredwidespread acclaim within the industry.

Looking ahead, Haitian and Zhafir will continue toprovide Nanyuan with cutting-edge technical sup.port.Together,we are committed to technological in.novation and industrial upgrading, exploring moreintelligent and sustainable production models, anddriving the plastic cap manufacturing industry to newheights.

On May 10th, the NPE 2024 Exhibition, held for the first time in six years, successfully concluded. As the largest plastics industry show in the Americas, it drew participants from over 110 countries and included more than 2000 exhibitors, filling over 100,000 square meters of exhibition space. The event witnessed a notable increase in professional visitors, providing an ideal platform for showcasing the latest advancements in the plastics industry and fostering meaningful discussions.

Throughout the five-day event, Haitian International made a significant impact with collective unveiling of its fifth-generation product lineup. Focusing on applications in the automotive, consumer goods, and medical sectors, Haitian International offered smart, flexible, and sustainable injection molding solutions into the global plastics industry.

Zhafir Electric Solutions

Flexible & Efficient Solutions for Medical Parts

On-site, Zhafir Plastics Machinery displayed a range of specialized solutions designed to meet the diversified requirements of the medical industry.

Notably, the all-electric VE1200V-210hs with the medical package, is designed for cleanroom production standards in the medical sector. Featuring a unique medical color scheme, anti-static paint, and a suspended tie-bar design etc., it meets international standards by offering enhanced resistance to dust and oil pollution and operating with reduced noise levels.

The live demonstration featured a 4-cavity medical syringe barrel production using Tritan copolyester, with product weight of 3.2g and an impressively quick cycle time of just 18 seconds.

Additionally, the electric ZE1900V-300h machine with hydraulic integration offers a flexible and efficient alternative for the medical industry. Utilizing stack mold technology, the solution enhances productivity per area. In parallel, Zhafir’s precise control and molding technologies also support to meet with the strict dimensions and accuracy requirements for medical parts manufacturing.

The live demonstration integrates an 8×8 cavity stack mold, showcasing the medical IV filters production. The products, made from AS material, with part weight of 1.5g and 2.2g  respectively, are produced with a cycle time of 18 seconds.

For both medical applications, Zhafir offers production management & information for traceability of production data and quality of medical products.

Haitian Hydraulic Solutions

Benchmark for Energy-saving, Smart and Efficient Injection Molding

Haitian Plastics Machinery showcased its new MA and JU series featuring fifth-generation technology, offering energy-efficient, intelligent, and high-performance solutions for the consumer goods and automotive industries. With outstanding value and performance that exceeded expectations, the new solutions received widespread acclaim and recognition in the local market.

The new Haitian MA2800V/1350 servo-hydraulic injection molding machine demonstrated the production of a single cavity consumer storage container using polypropylene, with a cycle time of 50 seconds. This innovative solution was developed after extensive upgrades to meet market demands for energy efficiency and intelligent performance in injection molding equipment. Its enhanced features cater perfectly to the consumer goods industry, providing energy-efficient and high-performance manufacturing solutions.

The Haitian JU7500V/3450 was another highlight, producing 2-cavity automotive outer panels from PC+ABS blends, with a cycle time of 60-second. This compact solution incorporates advanced energy-saving technology to significantly reduce energy consumption while achieving a dry cycle time at an internationally advanced level. By providing a high-efficiency, energy-saving, and space-efficient solution, it offers the automotive industry more opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency improvements.

Deepening Overseas Markets, Staying Close to Global Customers

NPE is the largest plastics trade show in the Americas and a highly influential event for the global plastics industry. At this year’s exhibition, Haitian International showcased not only its innovative technological advancements and cutting-edge applications, but also demonstrated its commitment to serving overseas markets with high-quality, high-value products and services.

In recent years, Haitian International has continuously increased its investment in the Americas. With the official opening of the new factory in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2023, Haitian International established new production capabilities to serve the entire American market. Through its manufacturing center in Mexico, application experience centers in South Carolina, USA, and São Paulo, Brazil, and a comprehensive network of sales and service partners across the region, Haitian provides American customers with prompt product delivery, extensive application support, seamless service experiences, and comprehensive after-sales support.

Moving forward, Haitian will continue deepening its global market presence with practical and effective measures to genuinely connect with customers worldwide. By enhancing high-quality local production and delivery capabilities and providing efficient and convenient services, Haitian aims to be a trusted partner to global customers, exploring more possibilities for a high quality and sustainable development of the plastics processing industry.

On May 6th, NPE 2024, the Plastics Show, kicked off as scheduled at the Orlando Convention Center in Florida. Haitian International made a significant impact with the debut of our new fifth-generation technology at booth W943, showcasing our innovative capabilities.

Join us as we “cross oceans” to bring you live coverage from the event, diving into the day’s highlights and discussing new technologies, trends, and opportunities in the global plastics industry.

On the first day, Haitian International’s booth was bustling with activity. The first collective appearance of our new fifth-generation product matrix on the international market drew widespread attention, with many visitors stopping by to explore.

On-site, our smart, flexible, and sustainable specialized solutions attracted numerous customers and partners for enthusiastic consultations and discussions, offering new perspectives for efficient production for our international clients.

During the exhibition, Haitian International focused on consumer goods, automotive, and medical industries, presenting four core solutions—Haitian MA2800V/1350 energy-efficient consumer products industry solution, Haitian JU7500V/3450 space-saving automotive industry solution, Zhafir VE1200V-210hs clean precision medical industry solution, and Zhafir ZE1900V-300h flexible efficient medical industry solution. These innovative solutions stood out, bringing a feast of technology that’s second to none and fully powering up the “5”.

The four showcased core solutions, emphasizing energy conservation and efficiency, leverage multiple energy-saving technologies and high-precision controls to achieve energy savings of 20-40%. They also significantly reduce the machine’s footprint and cycle times, paving a new path for green manufacturing.

Moreover, the solutions extensively incorporate smart functions and hardware innovations, enriching the intelligent capabilities to digitally upgrade production processes, enhancing precision and stability in production, and enabling efficient, flexible integration across multiple systems.

These four solutions are all “Greenness + HT Xtend” showcasing the pinnacle of China’s injection molding technology, sparking an innovative wave of “technology going global”.

NPE 2024, the Plastics Show, will continue until May 10th. We look forward to your visit at booth W943 to join us at this international industry event and embark on the path of innovation with our fifth-generation technology!

Citylong Technology Development Co. Ltd. , established in 1990, (hereinafter referred to as “Citylong”) has always focused on the home furnishing sector. Today, Citylong is a leading domestic enterprise combining research, development, production and sales in the home furnishing industry. Citylong has two main production bases in Tianjin and Xuzhou, and a global sales network covering various regions.

With the increasing demand for a higher quality of life, there are significant opportunities for storage products in the market, and China is expected to become one of the largest markets for storage and furnishing products in the world. Recently, we had the pleasure of having a conversation with Mr. Pan from Citylong, discussing the development of the storage products industry and exploring the current trends and demands in the home living sector.

1. Producing with precision: Craftsmanship to perfection

It is not an easy task to create products that are recognized by consumers enabling companies to enter a market. For now over 30 years, Citylong has been committed to the housewares industry. Behind its rise as an industry leader is a commitment to strict quality control and continuous product development. Through independent innovation, Citylong has driven the comprehensive introduction of whole-home storage solutions and achieved a leading position in the industry.

Entering Citylong’s production facility, the entire factory is equipped with fast-cycling Haitian and electrical Zhafir machines. Since the 1990s, Citylong has been a true supporter of Haitian machines.

Citylong has always been exploring new machines and technologies, continuously improving injection molding equipment and pushing the limits of quality. Mr. Pan told us, “Every time a new Haitian machine is introduced, we want to be the first company in the civil goods industry to use and test it.” At present, the total number of Haitian machines at all production sites is over 300, and it can be said that the continuous investment and development of Haitian machines are proof that Citylong is working tirelessly to improve product quality.

2. Cost reduction and efficiency improvement: achieving industrial advantages

In recent years, competition in the industry has intensified. Cost has become a major issue that many companies cannot escape. Mr. Pan explains, “In the past two years, we have almost exclusively purchased fast-cycling or electric machines. In particular, the high-speed machines can fully meet our energy-saving requirements. Although the initial investment for electric machines is higher, they do offer significant advantages in terms of total cost accounting. The initial investment can be amortized within two or three years.

In discussing other reasons for choosing Haitian, Mr. Pan mentioned that Haitian’s after-sales service, customer communication and support are customer-oriented, which is a significant advantage over other manufacturers. This is a key factor backing up Citylong’s decision to choose Haitian.

3. Fast response: seizing new online growth opportunities

Currently, e-commerce platforms have become one of the key sales channels for the home storage market. In addition to the opportunities presented by the online market, there is also the challenge of improving the flexibility of the company’s supply chain. “Nowadays, customers are very demanding. When they place an order, they expect delivery within three to five days. Last year, we had a unique special order, a multi-million dollar order that required fast delivery. The customer searched with all domestic industrial companies, but none could meet their expectations. Thanks to our advanced equipment, we were able to accept and execute this order,” said Mr. Pan. Haitian’s fast delivery of high-speed machinery gave Citylong the hardware support and strong drive it needed to meet even the most difficult challenges.

Group Photo

On its journey to quality, Citylong spares no effort and strives for perfection at every step. The high standard of product quality, advanced production facilities and the advantage of a fast supply chain have contributed to Citylong’s remarkable success in the Household industry. Haitian will continue to accompany Citylong in its pursuit to shape homes for its consumers with beautiful memories of a cultivated life.

HMC chooses ZHAFIR from Beginning

HMC (NINGBO HENGSHUAI CO.,LTD.) is a leading manufacturer of automotive micro-motors and automotive components. HMC has established long-term strategic partnerships with many global automotive manufacturers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, GM, Honda, and Hyundai. The vision is to be the trusted partner and leader in innovative solutions for automotive manufacturers worldwide. Commitment to quality and customer satisfaction are the catalysts to achieving this vision.

From a trial from the beginning, HMC and Zhafir kicked off the collaboration in 2010. As an initial customer of Zhafir, the bilateral relationship has gone through 12 years. In the workshop of HMC, the first generation of the VE Series is still running efficiently at full load. So far, this workhorse has been working for 12 years.

the workshop of HMC

With 12 years of experience, HMC has deepened its trust in ZHAFIR. But what encouraged HMC to be the first one to try the new technology that has been presented by Zhafir at that time?

Xu Erning，Vice President

Xu said,  “At that moment, we had compared many manufacturers of electric injection molding machines. In the end Zhafir gained our trust. Apart from that, as a local company in Ningbo, for us to have such excellent production in our hometown, why should we focus on other brands?” Therefore, HMC purchased the machines from Zhafir’s first generation. With the stability, precision, and convenience in actual implementation, Zhafir has inspired HMC. “The bigger highlight is its energy consumption. The energy consumption from electric technology is low and it solves the problem of peak power consumption every summer, providing us more advantages.”

The biggest benchmark for any operation is time. Over the past 12 years, Zhafir’s high efficiency, which has not changed over time, has been the reason why HMC keeps purchasing, and fueling HMC to gain long-term value in the e-automobile industry, too.

The rapid development of the automotive industry requires more and more precision. According to Mr. Xu, most of the products are functional parts, which cannot be defective when assembled into cars. The challenges of consistency and stability must be fully given. Therefore, equipment and molds are the keys to processing.

With the specialization and the high qualification rate, HMC regards Zhafir as a system partner. “The characteristics of Zhafir equipment, accuracy and speed, are critical to our company’s parts and components. During the processing, we benefit from the advantages of Zhafir in terms of product size, efficiency and stability. With its help, HMC has achieved a nice qualification rate and ppm can reach double digits. Even when we deliver the products to the customer, it can reach a single digit. Meanwhile, energy consumption is reduced, and the product quality is stable, so Zhafir machines are our preferred equipment. “

Refining on production and technology, HMC has become a qualified supplier in the automotive industry and has won many honors such as “excellent supplier” and “progressive supplier” of OEMs. The road of cooperation between HMC and Zhafir has expanded and deepened.

In the future, Zhaifr will continue to provide the most competitive products and solutions for global customers and partners with quality and efficiency over time, explore more ways for quality and efficiency, bring new drive for industrial transformation, and shape opportunities.

A customer visit to Emperor Mouldings B.V. in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Brothers Maarten and Peter Keijzer, heads of Emperor Mouldings B.V., embody a new generation of injection molders: focused, efficient and relaxed – with a new understanding of work-life balance. In the Zhafir Zeres Series, they see the best prerequisites for making injection molding processes as efficient as possible and driving production automation forward.

Growing up in his parents’ injection molding business, Maarten Keijzer knew very early on that he wanted to run an injection molding company. The fact that his father then sold the business turned out to be a good decision in retrospect, as Maarten quite inevitably had to found and build up his own company. He took this step in 2019, initially alone, but since 2022 his brother Peter has been completely on board.

Both had precise ideas from the start: “No employees for as long as possible, but to bring production to the maximum, so far that we can still manage everything with just the two of us.” The main products are clips of agricultural use; the end customers are greenhouse operators. In addition to the agricultural industry, they still supply the commodity sector and technical parts. The bottom line is that they focus exclusively on small shot weights in high volumes. This is because highly efficient processes, “production-friendly” products and automation in places where it is worthwhile and serves the work-life balance are important to them. Maarten Keijzer: “I certainly experienced many things in my father’s company that I wanted to do differently. The principle ‘Only those who work hard will make it’ may have had its justification in those days. Today, we have other options. In the age of digitalization and its tools, it’s easier to design efficient and lean processes.” The recently introduced automated foiling of cartons is a good example of this, he said. “This robot saves us a lot of valuable time.” They are currently considering an AGV, which would then take the full cartons out of the magazines at night, increasing piece counts.

Passion for technology: Maarten (left) and Peter Keijzer with a Venus model made of Lego that they added robotics and peripherals to.

About meaningful growth and scalability

Since its founding in 2019, Emperor Mouldings B.V. has grown steadily, in output, turnover, set-up. “If the demand is there, it would make no sense not to grow,” the Keijzers agree. “But always with moderation and purpose.” Nevertheless, growth is not generally the big goal, they say; rather, they are concerned with the “sporting challenge” of spraying the maximum number of products with the existing machines and their 2-man power. “There is room for eight machines in our production. That’s still a size we can handle with two people. And should the market require more, we’ll see how far we can go with our manpower.”

Growth in this, their sense, presupposes that processes are optimized for maximum efficiency. That cycle times are reduced to the maximum and 24/6 non-stop operation runs smoothly to the maximum, with a clearly focused product group: simple small parts in large quantities.

Accordingly, they have aligned their machinery and supplemented it with pinpoint accuracy. The heart of production is currently formed by five electric Zeres machines with four times 900 and once 1,200 kN clamping force (another is on order). All run with integrated controls (Success Series 7 and 11) from Sepro Robotics. The molds are equipped with external hotrunner systems from PSG, and a specially programmed error-stop function intervenes if the temperature in the metering unit is too high. This also guarantees them near-zero error production at Emperor Mouldings. Original quote Maarten Keijzer: “We’ve had just 1 carton of rejects so far in 2022.”

“The electric Zeres fits very well with our philosophy: technology to the point for production to the point. The price-performance ratio is also unbeatable in our eyes. Our first 90-tonne Zeres has already gone through more than 6 million cycles without a significant malfunction.” Maarten Keijzer, Emperor Mouldings B.V.

Performance against rising energy costs

While the young company has come through the pandemic relatively well and relaxed, the energy crisis is having an even more serious impact on its core market, the Dutch agricultural industry. Rising energy prices are likely to bring many greenhouse owners to their knees, by next winter at the latest. “Our warehouse is full and the market is saturated for now. That means that of our machines, only two out of five are currently running. The reason for this is that the agricultural industry is suffering extremely from rising energy prices and many end customers have already announced that they are closing their greenhouses for the winter.” The two brothers nevertheless take the situation calmly: “A crisis is also always an opportunity. Up to now we’ve had full capacity utilization, now we’re using the quiet phase for new customer acquisition, internal projects that have fallen behind, or we’re happy to have more family time.”

Of course, rising energy costs are also making themselves felt in their own injection molding operations, but their stringent decision to use electric machines and the low shot weight of the small parts keep their energy consumption within limits. In any case, they optimize their injection molding processes for maximum energy savings to keep their carbon footprint as small as possible.

First certified industrial compostable clipring made of PLA’

Apart from that, they keep on working on continuous automation of production, keyword: increasing efficiency. “The electric machines are a tremendous help for us to produce in this high efficiency. Our father had hydraulic machines, he still had to ramp them up with some lead time and wait until the oil temperature was right, sort out some cycles of scrap and so on. We turn our Zeres family on Monday morning and don’t turn them off until Saturday night. Machines and the Success line from Sepro are an ideal match. From the first shot, production is error-free,” explains Maarten Keijzer.

In his opinion, another important building block for higher efficiency is material-optimized processes, in which he gained valuable experience in his previous job at a material supplier. “Our injection units are all equipped with a shut-off nozzle, so we can maximize parallel functions during energy-intensive plasticizing. Every second saved has an immediate impact on energy costs.”

In addition to all their commitment to energy savings and efficiency, they are equally consistent in working on their production-side sustainability. From starting with 100% virgin raw material at startup time, they are now at nearly 100% recycled and compostable material.

When asked about concrete visions or dreams for the near future, the answer is rather down-to-earth: “Two days away from the company, but everything continues to run” – that’s a good vision. But of course they are well aware of the challenges ahead and want to face them. And who knows, “maybe we’ll become the smallest smart factory in Europe.”

Info box

Production profile of Emperor Mouldings:

• All Zeres machines run smoothly in 24/6mode;
• All machines are equipped with automation;
• During the day, the machines are serviced and processes optimized if necessary; at night, they produce unmanned;
• Only small parts with a high number of pieces are produced.