Engel to present high-volume connector cell at Fakuma

Engel will present an integrated production cell for high-volume automotive connector manufacturing at Fakuma 2026. The installation combines the all-electric Wintec e-win 1800 injection moulding machine with the new Engel viper 6 robot, which will make its Fakuma debut. Designed for technically straightforward standard components produced under strong cost pressure, the cell covers injection moulding, sprue removal and part conveying. According to Engel, hundreds of machines from the Wintec range are already operating at customer sites. The exhibited system is intended for products such as connectors, cable ties and wall plugs, where manufacturers face tight margins, limited scope to pass on price increases and competition from lower-cost production locations. The machine, robot, safety enclosure and conveyor belt are supplied as one tested, CE-compliant unit, so the operator does not need to conduct a separate conformity assessment for the complete cell.

128 cavities and an eight-second cycle

The cell uses a Wintec e-win 1800 with 1,800 kN of clamping force and a size 640 injection unit. Engel selected this configuration to match the requirements of technically straightforward standard components while limiting investment and operating costs.

The mould has 128 cavities and operates with a cycle time of eight seconds. This corresponds to an output of 57,600 parts per hour. The manufactured component is an approximately 10 × 6 mm connector part that is already produced in series for the automotive industry.

The mould produces 128 connector components at a time. At an 8-second cycle time, this amounts to 57,600 parts per hour

Digital assistance supports process stability

The production cell is designed to maintain high availability during continuous manufacturing. The iQ weight control plus assistance system automatically compensates for process fluctuations and responds when individual cavities fail. Its purpose is to maintain consistent part quality when production or ambient conditions change.

If a fault occurs, users can access Engel's global service network for on-site support. By limiting unplanned downtime, the system is intended to support cost-efficient production in applications where margins are narrow.

New viper 6 handles sprue removal

The new viper 6 removes the sprue in the demonstrated application. The latest generation of the smallest robot in Engel's viper range has redesigned axis profiles and is available with a selection of strokes, enabling integration into cells of different sizes.

After moulding, the finished parts fall freely onto a conveyor belt and are transported to a collection container positioned beside the cell. This handling arrangement is designed as a simple and robust solution for high-volume production of standard components.

The complete solution featuring the Wintec e-win 1800 and the new Engel viper 6 combines injection moulding and automation in an integrated production cell

Partners supplying the production cell

The mould is supplied by CWB Technology Germany GmbH of Frankfurt am Main. The company has roots in China and specialises in connectors for automotive electronics and electrical systems. Material conveying and drying equipment comes from the Italian Piovan Group, which supplies automation solutions for plastics processing. Engel provides the temperature control units used in the cell.

The production cell will be demonstrated at Fakuma in Hall A5, Stand 5203.