With the new Generation II, Zhafir Plastics Machinery has greatly optimized the Venus Series and has upgraded it. The premium machine was previously available in clamping force sizes of 400 to 4,100 kN, but now Generation II is also available in 3,000, 3,600, 4,500, and 5,500 kN.

Haitian International, the parent company of the German-Chinese manufacturer Zhafir, is convinced that fully-electric solutions will win out because of their speed, precision, and energy efficiency. “Fully-electric solutions are gaining ground, especially in the small and medium clamping force categories,” says Professor h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Helmar Franz, Chief Strategy Officer and board member of Haitian International Ltd. “Asia, the main market, has been setting the pace for a long time, and the rest of the market will follow.”

3,000 units sold since market launch

In 2007 Zhafir introduced the first Venus machine into the market using the slogan “fully-electric designs at affordable prices,” and since then they have steadily been able to rack up increases in sales figures. To date, well over 3,000 Venus machines have been sold, and more than 500 units were ordered in the first half of 2013 alone.

Improvements in design – Technology to the point

Tie-bar spacing on Series II machines with clamping forces upwards of 2,300 kN has been significantly increased and adjusted to meet international standards. There is a wide range of choice, up to 8 injection units per clamping force. All Venus II motors have been specially developed for this series at Haitian Drive Systems. They offer higher acceleration rates, significant energy savings, and fast reaction times, and they are fine-tuned to their inverters. In the standard model, the result has been an increase to 200 mm/s in injection performance for injection units of up to 430, and to 160 mm/s for the larger injection units up to 350 mm/s.

The new injection unit design is more compact, and ensures greater stabi-lity and dynamics. The swivel-mounted injection unit permits a fast screw change and facilitates access for maintenance. A new type of central lubrication system works with a low-viscosity lubricant, bringing a savings of 20 % oil. The ejector’s quick-release coupling reduces set-up times and permits coupling inside 30 seconds.

Live at the K Show: “p” version means performance plus

The “p” version of the second generation of Venus machines, specially designed for the manufacturing of packaging, packaging components and mass-produced articles, is also part of the market upgrade of the Venus Series. Available in clamping forces from 1,500 to 3,800 kN and with injection rates of up to 350 mm/s, this is a very economical and energy-saving solution for high-speed components in the standard sector. At the K Show, Zhafir will display a VE II 1900/830p machine. In a live demonstration at the exhibition stand (Hall 15 A41), it will produce a polystyrene coffee stirrer on a 24-cavity mold in barely 2,8 seconds. The energy consumption for this is 8.3 kWh, or 0.50 kWh/kg.