At the Fakuma trade fair, from October 13 to 17, Kistler launched its new ComoNeo process monitoring system.

For many years, Kistler’s innovative solutions to enhance process reliability in injection moulding have ensured the firm’s leading position in the global market. These systems all feature mature technology with one common denominator: quality testing is integrated into the injection moulding process. The benefit: faulty parts can be excluded from the production process before they cause unnecessary costs. The ComoNeo process monitoring system moves automated production process monitoring into a new dimension: first-time customers will find that Kistler’s new system provides a simple introduction, while users with experience in this field will appreciate the technological advances that it offers.

The ComoNeo process monitoring system breaks new ground in the development of hardware as well as integrated monitoring software. To start with, the entirely new intuitive design sets new standards. The display - equipped with optimised touch-based operation - is now more closely tailored to users’ needs. Users also benefit directly from the increased number of channel inputs on the ComoNeo: twice as many cavity pressure signals can now be recorded, so moulds with a large number of cavities can be connected. Likewise, the number of digital outputs is doubled, so more components can be evaluated individually. The ComoNeo software is also committed to a process-oriented operating philosophy - as is clear from the various new tools that offer active support with analysing process fluctuations and monitoring component quality. This system is ideal for highly quality-conscious companies that aim for systematic analysis and optimisation of their processes - and it is also an excellent choice for firms that focus on the transparency of their injection moulding processes and comprehensive documentation of component quality.

One outstanding highlight of the integrated monitoring software is the tool that generates and positions the monitoring boxes for good/bad evaluation. In the past, users had to set the monitoring boxes themselves. Now, the ComoNeo includes a systematic process (Evaluation Assistant/EO Assistant) that guides the user quickly and accurately to the rejection limits. The results from the EO Assistant therefore define the evaluation types and the relevant limits. Thanks to this approach, components can be monitored with high precision and “pseudoscrap” (i.e. “presumed” scrap) is reduced. Complaints from customers are also avoided because no faulty components leave the production line. Reducing pseudoscrap and eliminating rejects are two especially crucial factors in cutting production costs in the injection moulding process.

The “dashboard” is a second highlight: this is an overview screen that collates all the relevant process data to give a clear picture of how the production lot is currently progressing. Thanks to the dashboard, Kistler customers can detect process fluctuations very quickly. Users can also navigate directly from the dashboard to the detailed data. Another attractive innovation: the operating controls and procedures are consistently geared to the injection moulding process - for instance, cavity-specific analyses can be carried out.

But that's not all: ComoNeo offers even more tools - such as the newly-designed user management feature that allows every company to set up its own specific roles for various users, and automatic mould identification to prevent errors on the interface between the mould and the integrated monitoring software. Automated mould selection also reduces retooling times.