Case Study
Celebrating a 40-Year
Collaborative Partnership
Breakthrough Technologies and Energy-Saving Machines
With more than 1,600 employees in six countries, Bemis Manufacturing is an international
leader in the production of private label products and components for the commercial,
medical and industrial industries. Milacron is proud to be celebrating 40 years of working
with Bemis.
Building Trust by Meeting Evolving Needs
Started in 1901, the Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin company has evolved greatly over the
past century. In that time, Bemis and Milacron formed a partnership that is much deeper
and more productive than the average supplier-molder relationship. Milacron works
closely with Bemis on breakthrough technologies to help it stay competitive in the global
market.
Bemis Manufacturing knew it could trust Milacron to design and build injection-molding
machines to meet its specific requirements, including multi-cavity molds, short cycle
times, in-mold assembly and high-tonnage capacity. As a result of this partnership, the
Milacron team built one of the largest injection molding machines in the industry – 6,600
tons - onsite at the Bemis facility.
“We are a progressive
molder, and Milacron
machines are all we use.”
Gary Vande Berg
Vice President of Engineering
Bemis Manufacturing
Saving Energy
A commitment to conservation and saving energy costs spurred one of the biggest and
most successful advancements between Bemis and Milacron, a custom co-injection
machine that was a first for both manufacturing companies almost 20 years ago.
Co-injection is a process that can improve environmental sustainability by making it
possible to include a recycled material in the core, with another material molded over
top. Since this breakthrough, the co-injection process has become a key competitive
advantage for Bemis Manufacturing, already adept at buying low-cost recycled resins
and incorporating them into a wide variety of products.
4165 Half Acre Road › Batavia, OH 45103 › Tel: 513.536.2000 › www.milacron.com/plastics/
Co-Injection Collaboration Leaps into the 21st Century
Bemis and Milacron’s co-injection collaboration took another leap forward in 2012 with the
development of a 1,500-ton MAXIMA G co-injection machine, incorporating servo technology
to further improve environmental sustainability and reduce energy costs.
Deploying permanent magnet servo motors and internal gear pumps in place of conventional
induction motors, Milacron’s one-of-a-kind servo configuration cuts energy use by up to 60
percent compared to a hydraulic of similar size. The MAXIMA G for Bemis Manufacturing,
which includes a unique barrel shape for reduced shear, is the largest co-injection servo
hybrid built by Milacron.
Engineered to run a multitude of processes on a single platform, the system can accommodate
not only co-injection, but also multi-component, sequential molding, stack molding and
other advanced processes. Another key innovation is an interchangeable injection unit,
allowing for parts of very different sizes to be made on the same machine.
Bemis and Milacron’s
co-injection collaboration
took another leap
forward in 2012 with the
development of a 1,500ton MAXIMA G
co-injection machine.
These are the latest innovative achievements shared by Milacron and Bemis Manufacturing,
but they won’t be the last. Bemis and Milacron are looking to another 40 years of partnering
in the manufacturing industry.
4165 Half Acre Road › Batavia, OH 45103 › Tel: 513.536.2000 › www.milacron.com/plastics/