Smarter Injection Molding! 

Introducing the New CSI^4.0 from LS Mtron!

‘Smart Factory’ refers to a factory that gathers, analyzes and controls process data in real-time by installing the Internet of Things (IOT) in its facilities and machines. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been utilized in the Smart Factory for further innovation in manufacturing.

When mentioning AI, most people think of science fiction. However, it is a fact that AI software is used to increase the efficiency and convenience of manufacturing plants by smartly processing all of the data that is generated by the machinery and equipment operating in the plant.  This is a challenging task, considering the amount of data that is generated. 

LS Mtron has been working to combine Smart Factory technology with artificial intelligence to create a system that can analyze the data generated, interpret the situation, and come up with solutions.  The result is CSI^4.0 from LS Mtron – a solution for smarter injection molding.

■ LS Mtron Smart Manufacturing: what kind of technology does it provide to customers?

A true Smart Factory produces customized products by combining various information and communication technologies, such as the Internet of Things and big data in product production. In addition, it is able to increase production efficiency through organic and integrated production and is also characterized by its ability to produce customized products suitable for customer needs at optimal cost and time.

In that regard, LS Mtron is providing various technologies and products so that its customers can produce products more smartly. For instance, LS Mtron not only supports real-time optimal production management through the smart production control system, but it also presents a smart data interface to link data from the injection molding machine with MES (Manufacturing Execution System), which can optimize the production activities covering everything from ordering to finished products.  

Customer convenience is expected to further increase because the LS Mtron system not only monitors the resource activities and information for production, such as process plan scheduling in real-time by linking all injection machines of customers using MES through the smart data interface, but it also manages the history and reflects it in production plans. 

In addition, Smart Equipment Control can simultaneously monitor and control auxiliary equipment directly from the injection machine by interfacing data from the equipment with the user display of the machine. Smart Mold Recognition technology is an additional solution that automatically recognizes RFID tags installed in a mold via a UHF method within 10 meters, or by directly scanning barcodes attached to a mold. 

This solution reduces the time required to start-up and achieve mass-production.  It eliminates  handwritten input errors by workers in advance since it sets the conditions necessary for mold production into the injection machine, and automatically sets production parameters to nearby facilities connected via communication links from the machine that uses the Smart Equipment Control.

In addition, LS Mtron is further raising the customers" convenience through smart monitoring, which monitors real-time production information using smart devices.

■ Intelligent Machines and Smart Services – only from LS Mtron! 

Currently, LS Mtron’s Intelligent Machines and Smart Services include Smart Weight Control and Smart Remote Services.

Smart Weight Control is a technology that automatically compensates the weight of molded products by changing the process conditions. In other words, it is a function that detects the weight fluctuation element of the molded products using the software of the injection machine and changes the conditions on its own in order to partially compensate them to normal weight.

In addition, the Smart Remote Service is a system that enables the experts of LS Mtron to isolate problems from various angles by sharing the display of the remote injection machine in real-time at the request of users. Through this, customers can solve problems in real-time and enjoy the benefit of reducing the service time in offline mode.

■ AI Injection Molding System – only from LS Mtron!

We have experienced 3 industrial revolutions thus far, and the 4th industrial revolution represented by Artificial Intelligence (AI) is just around the corner. AI is characterized by a general-purpose technology that is not bound to any specific industry. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, it is mainly used to raise efficiency and convenience in the manufacturing domain, and is rapidly emerging as a hot topic in the manufacturing industry, along with the smart factory.

In line with this, LS Mtron is currently presenting its new AI Injection System to the injection molding industry. The AI Injection System applied an AI technology to process optimization of the injection machines for the first time in Asia. It consists of AI Weight Control and AI Molding Assistant systems. The AI Weight Control system detects any fluctuation in the weight of molded products with a gravimetric measuring device connected to an injection machine, and alters the conditions to return to the normal weight on its own. The AI Molding Assistant system dramatically shortens the time for stabilizing the initial process by learning and imitating the method to derive process conditions of the highly skilled injection molding experts through AI technology.

The AI condition derivation system learns and imitates the injection molding methods of high-skilled experts to build injection conditions, and then implement the consistent process. As a result of a test evaluation through actual laboratory tests, a group of low-skilled operators using AI systems set up good products on average 23% faster than the group of high-skilled operators who did not use AI systems, thereby proving its productivity advantage.

On top of this, the AI Weight Control system can dramatically reduce defects in molded products through compensation for weight fluctuation of products by automatically altering the process in real-time. In particular, it was highly rated by customers who noted that out of spec molded products are often produced due to environmental conditions such as fluctuations in ambient temperature and humidity.

■ Smart Factory CSI4.0 - only from LS Mtron!

After the global financial crisis in 2008, countries around the world were encouraged to promote national strategies for the revival of the manufacturing industry. Traditional manufacturing powerhouses such as Germany, the U.S., and Japan have pushed for proceeding with a smart factory policy in order to strengthen manufacturing competitiveness, including increased production efficiency and customized production. Emerging countries such as China are also working hard to become manufacturing powerhouses.

South Korea is also shifting its driving strategy, from mainly focusing on quantitative distribution to a qualitatively advanced strategy, in order to expand the smart factory concept. The importance of a smart factory is becoming even more essential as "non-face-to-face" and "remote" have emerged as new buzzwords due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic recently.

Under such circumstances, LS Mtron is presenting the CSI4.0   from only LS Mtron as a keyword for the growth of the smart injection molding industry.  The CSI4.0   is expected to serve as a true solution to changes in the injection molding industry, which has entered a new phase..

■ Inquiry: LS Mtron"s Molding Machine Division’s Website www.lsinjection.com