Focused on Consistency: CH3 Solutions Purchases WINTEC machine
In need of a new machine, CH3 Solutions Vice President Rodney Davenport took advantage of last year’s National Plastics Exposition (NPE2018) in Orlando, FL to visit several supplier booths and view injection molding machines in action. Though not originally on his radar, the WINTEC t-win machine caught his eye. Watching the machine in operation, Davenport felt that WINTEC’s t-win machine would be a good fit for their molding operations. CH3 Solutions instantly became the owners of the first WINTEC machine sold in North America – making their purchase at the show.
Since 2014, WINTEC, an ENGEL group company, based in Changzhou, China, has produced high-quality injection molding machines for standard applications. With sales commencing in May, 2018, WINTEC is expanding its distribution into the US, Canadian, Mexican, and Brazilian markets. At NPE2018, WINTEC presented itself to the American public for the first time.
“I met Rodney at the NPE2018 show last year when he visited the WINTEC booth looking to purchase a press for a new standard machine application,” advised Don Ivey, Director of Sales – WINTEC North America. “Rodney was looking for a new machine with repeatability and longevity, and wanted to purchase from a company that had parts and service support based in the USA. WINTEC turned out to be the perfect fit for CH3.”
“We are definitely pleased with our WINTEC press,” Davenport shares. “Machine installation was quick and smooth, and the machine has been running flawlessly ever since.”
World Class Processor
The founders of CH3 Solutions started out as customers; customers looking for a supplier to provide them with a high level of product quality and service. Unable to find anyone offering the level of support they expected, Ron Bennett and Steve White Jr. of parent company Recreational Group decided to start their own production company. To do so, they reached out to industry veteran Rodney Davenport, inviting him to help establish and run the new production facility. From this focus on the highest levels of quality, consistency and service CH3 Solutions was established in 2015.
Starting out as a proprietary molder – molding the Recreational Group’s VersaCourt product – with sales of 1.6 million and 7 staff members in a 35,000 square foot facility, the company has seen incredible growth. Sales in 2018 were 4.3 million, and the company now employs 22 staff members and occupies a 90,000 square foot building. CH3 Solutions has grown into custom molding, and runs production 3 shifts per day, 5 days per week, serving customers in the Consumer and Agricultural industries.
Proof of the company’s success came in 2017 when they were named one of the top 25 World Class Processors. This is quite a feat, having only been in business for two years.
The Machine
“The WINTEC machine provides high repeatability with low energy usage,” says Davenport. “We run some very color sensitive parts and are exceedingly happy with the consistency we are getting every time the mold goes into the machine. Our operators – even our novices – find the machine controller very easy to use, and especially like the icons.”
Davenport continues “We are also pleased with the benefits of the two-platen design. We could set up a very compact work area because of the machine’s small footprint, and the machine design allows for fast, easy mold changes and open access for cleaning.”
WINTEC’s t-win injection molding machine fits the needs of CH3 Solutions perfectly:
1. Productivity: linear guides and synchronized locking device enable optimum platen parallelism, fast movements and short dry cycle times providing high output with a maximum of high quality parts.
2. High Quality: control of all movements generates the best repeatability and reduces scrap parts.
3. Energy Savings: servowin servo-hydraulics, combined with frictionless movements due to no contact between tie bars and moving platen, provides high energy savings.
4. Space Savings: compact two-platen design requires less floor space, allowing more machines to be installed in current production space.
5. Long Operational Life: sound design, precise processes and frictionless movement both reduces maintenance requirements and extends life of machine.
The machine’s optimized control unit provides a level of performance 33% higher than the market average in the segment of injection molding machines for standard applications, with fast processing speed, improved control rate and user-friendly interface. The 15" touch screen panel is ergonomically designed with the ability to tilt for best view angle, with easy input either via touch screen, functional graphs or keyboard pop-ups.
