Robot Architecture and Speed Performance
SWITEK employs a side-entry robot design with servo-driven linear axes, achieving entry-to-exit times of 0.6-1.0 seconds on mold daylight openings of 560-700mm typical of HWAMDA SPV5 machines. Their SW-IML series uses aluminum structural beams with carbon fiber reinforced end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) to minimize inertia. Maximum acceleration reaches 3-5G on the main axis. Star Automation's Flex IML series uses a similar side-entry architecture but with higher-rigidity steel-aluminum hybrid frames and servo motors from Yaskawa achieving acceleration of 5-8G. Star's entry-to-exit time reaches 0.5-0.8 seconds, a 15-25% speed advantage that becomes meaningful at sub-4-second cycle times. For an HWAMDA HMD 400M8-SPV running 8-cavity yogurt cups at 4.5s total cycle, the mold-open window is approximately 1.0-1.5 seconds. SWITEK's 0.8s in-mold time leaves adequate margin, while Star's 0.6s provides more buffer for label placement verification. Both robots support simultaneous label placement and part extraction in a single entry.
Key Specs
- •SWITEK employs a side-entry robot design with servo-driven linear axes, achieving entry-to-exit times of 0.6-1.0 seconds on mold daylight openings of 560-700mm typical of HWAMDA SPV5 machines.
- •Star's entry-to-exit time reaches 0.5-0.8 seconds, a 15-25% speed advantage that becomes meaningful at sub-4-second cycle times.
High-speed injection unit with linear guides
Label Placement Accuracy and Repeatability
IML label placement accuracy determines the visual quality of the finished container. SWITEK achieves label placement accuracy of +/-0.3-0.5mm with repeatability of +/-0.2mm across 8 cavities simultaneously. Their vacuum-based EOAT uses 12-16 suction cups per label with static charge generation to hold labels against the cavity wall. Star Automation achieves +/-0.2-0.3mm accuracy with +/-0.1mm repeatability, using their proprietary servo-positioning system with optical sensors for real-time label position verification. For standard yogurt cup IML where the label wraps 270-360 degrees around the cup circumference, SWITEK's accuracy is sufficient for most market requirements. However, for premium rectangular containers or margarine tubs where label-to-edge alignment must be within 0.3mm, Star's tighter tolerances justify the price premium. On HWAMDA SPV5 lines, both robots interface through the INOVA controller's robot I/O module, using Euromap 67 signals for mold open/close synchronization and cavity-by-cavity quality monitoring.
System Integration with HWAMDA SPV5 Machines
SWITEK has a natural integration advantage with HWAMDA, as both companies are based in China with established supply relationships. SWITEK provides pre-configured I/O mapping for HWAMDA's INOVA controller, reducing commissioning time from 3-5 days to 1-2 days. The SW-IML controller communicates via Euromap 67 protocol with additional proprietary signals for advanced features like cavity-specific reject triggering and label supply monitoring. Star Automation integration requires more setup effort but offers deeper programmability. Their robot controller supports Euromap 67 plus Euromap 79 (OPC-UA) for Industry 4.0 data exchange, enabling real-time cycle monitoring, predictive maintenance alerts, and production data logging. Integration with the HWAMDA INOVA controller is fully supported but typically requires a Star Automation technician for initial commissioning at an additional cost of $2,000-4,000. Physical installation is straightforward for both: robots mount on a frame adjacent to the non-operator side of the SPV5 machine, requiring a footprint of 2.0x1.5m for SWITEK and 2.5x1.8m for Star, with 6-bar compressed air supply and 3-phase power connection.
Servo-hydraulic drive system with energy recovery
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Label Magazine and Consumables Management
The label magazine system determines how frequently operators must reload labels and how reliably labels separate for placement. SWITEK magazines hold 2,000-4,000 labels per stack (depending on label thickness of 40-70 microns), requiring reload every 15-30 minutes on an 8-cavity mold. Their separator system uses a combination of mechanical fingers and air jets with a label mis-pick rate of 0.1-0.3%. Star Automation magazines hold 3,000-6,000 labels with a dual-magazine auto-changeover feature that enables continuous production during reloading. Their electrostatic separator reduces mis-pick rates to 0.05-0.15%. The label cost itself is $0.008-0.015 per label for standard PP IML labels at 50-60 micron thickness, adding $0.008-0.015 per container. For an 8-cavity mold producing 6,400 cups/hour on the HWAMDA SPV5, daily label consumption is approximately 150,000 labels ($1,200-2,250/day). Star's lower mis-pick rate saves 150-300 labels per day ($1.50-4.50), a negligible savings, but the reduced mold stops for label jams save 2-5 minutes per shift, worth $20-50 in production time.
Price Comparison and Total Investment Analysis
SWITEK IML robot system pricing for HWAMDA SPV5 configurations: 4-cavity side-entry $18,000-25,000, 8-cavity side-entry $25,000-35,000, 8-cavity with stacking $32,000-42,000. Star Automation pricing: 4-cavity $35,000-50,000, 8-cavity $45,000-65,000, 8-cavity with stacking $55,000-75,000. The 70-90% price premium for Star Automation reflects Japanese servo motor components, Italian-engineered mechanics, and a more comprehensive software package. Beyond the robot itself, total IML cell costs include: EOAT ($3,000-8,000 per set, mold-specific), label magazine and separator ($2,000-5,000), compressed air and electrical infrastructure ($1,000-3,000), and safety guarding ($2,000-5,000). For a complete IML cell with SWITEK, budget $30,000-50,000 total. For Star, budget $55,000-85,000. When comparing against the $85,000-100,000 HWAMDA HMD 400M8-SPV machine cost, the SWITEK option adds 30-50% to cell investment while Star adds 55-85%, making robot selection a significant cost driver.
Key Specs
- •The 70-90% price premium for Star Automation reflects Japanese servo motor components, Italian-engineered mechanics, and a more comprehensive software package.
- •When comparing against the $85,000-100,000 HWAMDA HMD 400M8-SPV machine cost, the SWITEK option adds 30-50% to cell investment while Star adds 55-85%, making robot selection a significant cost driver.
Toggle clamping unit — high rigidity for thin-wall molding
Recommendation for HWAMDA SPV5 Production Lines
For the majority of HWAMDA SPV5 customers producing thin-wall food packaging, SWITEK delivers the best value proposition. Choose SWITEK when: total cell budget must stay under $200,000 (machine + mold + robot + auxiliaries), cycle times are 4.0 seconds or above, label placement accuracy of +/-0.5mm meets market requirements, production is in Asia or Middle East where SWITEK service is readily available, and fast commissioning with HWAMDA's INOVA controller is important. Choose Star Automation when: producing premium IML products for European or Japanese markets with strict label placement specifications, cycle times below 3.5 seconds demand the fastest possible robot entry/exit, continuous production without magazine reload interruptions is critical, and the budget accommodates the 70-90% price premium. HWAMDA can supply complete turnkey production lines with either robot brand, handling integration, commissioning, and single-source warranty. Contact sales@hwamdaglobal.com for configured line pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
SWITEK robots achieve total IML cycle times of 4.0-5.0 seconds (0.8s robot in-mold time), while Star Automation reaches 3.5-4.5 seconds (0.6s in-mold time) on HWAMDA SPV5 machines. The limiting factor is usually cooling time, not robot speed. For 8-cavity yogurt cups with 0.40mm walls, expect 4.2-4.8s total cycle with SWITEK and 3.8-4.5s with Star on an HMD 400M8-SPV.
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