IMOPLASTIC strengthens efficiency and sustainability with FUCHS CARE service
On an April morning at the IMOPLASTIC factory in Marinha Grande: The FUCHS CARE equipment is already connected and the old emulsion is starting to come out of the imposing CNC machine at a good pace. "Our vacuum cleaner is very efficient. It sucks up all the emulsion down to the residual level needed for a first wash," explains FUCHS technician Joaquim Jesus. With the replacement of the old emulsion with ECOCOOL CUT BFF emulsion, a fluid with a strong cooling capacity, the technician started the FUCHS CARE service at the mold company with 70 employees. IMOPLASTIC's production manager, João Morgado, accompanies the various steps from the removal of the old emulsion to the preparation and placement of the new emulsion. "We already had good feedback from the other companies in our Group and now we're seeing that the FUCHS CARE team really does a good job," he comments.
With IMOPLASTIC introducing FUCHS cutting oils, the IMOPLASTIC Group now exclusively uses fluids from the world's largest independent lubricant manufacturer in its three companies specializing in thermoplastic injection moulds. The other two, GEOCAM and IMODRILL, have already started their partnership with the Portuguese subsidiary of the German multinational in 2023 and 2024, respectively. "The value for money is very good. That's why our Group switched to FUCHS. The Group was also very pleased with the specialized FUCHS CARE service, which is free of charge," says João Morgado. This service consists of four steps: 1. sucking out the old emulsion and transferring it to a vat (for later waste treatment), 2. self-washing the machine with the product RENOCLEAN FXM 4005 added eight hours in advance, 3. hand-washing the machine with high-pressure water, 4. preparing and placing the new emulsion. "I also take a sample of the new emulsion for checking in our laboratory in Maia," explains Joaquim Jesus.
At the FUCHS laboratory, the technical team analyzes the emulsion thoroughly: it assesses the appearance and smell, measures the pH value, concentration and conductivity, as well as the level of bacteria, fungi, yeasts, foreign oils, phase separation and corrosion with iron shavings. "If the sample shows any negative results, we can react straight away and add a corrective additive to the emulsion," says the technician and adds: "In this initial phase, I'll be taking one sample a week from IMOPLASTIC." The FUCHS specialist believes that they can complete the initial analysis after three weeks and move on to a more spaced-out control, since "the Group already uses the same emulsion in its other companies."
IMOPLASTIC produces top quality molds
For the production manager, the laboratory service is essential "to check that all the emulsion is in ideal condition. With the support of FUCHS, we have the guarantee that we are using the product correctly and that the machines are protected. We have to preserve them as much as possible, they are very expensive pieces of equipment. Everything in the mold industry is very expensive." IMOPLASTIC's three five-axis CNC machines produce steel moulds of up to six tons, while IMODRILL and GEOCAM make larger moulds of up to 16 and 40 tons respectively. "We always work with metal parts and if the emulsion isn't right, it can cause corrosion and damage the part. That can't happen. Each part is different, no two are the same," says João Morgado. The mechanical engineer has been in charge of production for almost three years at IMOPLASTIC, which was founded in 1980 and is renowned for its high quality. The Group, which employs 224 people, produces molds for the automotive industry - at a rate of 50 to 70 percent - for the white goods and home appliance industries and other industries. The export rate is 95 percent and the main markets are Germany, Switzerland and Poland.
The FUCHS CARE service was created in 2019 by FUCHS LUBRIFICANTES in Maia for the metalworking industry. The companies that FUCHS supports gain time and perfection, as the FUCHS technical team, made up of a technician, an application engineer and a product manager, takes care of everything in the best possible way. As a result, the machine tools are always perfectly lubricated and protected, which guarantees maximum performance and longevity. In addition, the FUCHS CARE service makes a significant contribution to improving the environmental balance and health and safety at work.
