real world success

BIWI SA Facilitates Part Design and Mold Setup Using Moldflow Plastics Insight Software

By Catherine Baghdiguian, Moldflow Corporation

In the two decades since its inception, Glovelier, Switzerland-based BIWI SA has become a competitive contender in the plastics industry. The company has extensive experience in molding synthetic materials, plastics and rubber; over-molding applications; tool design and manufacture; and production and assembly operations. The company specializes in the production of technical and precision parts, such as clocks and watches, computers and arming devices for automotive, leisure, electronics, medical, industrial and banking markets.

BIWI SA relies on its internal research and development office as well as its ultra-modern production tools, which allow the company to produce even the most difficult parts. The company implemented Moldflow Plastics Insight^TM (MPI^®) software in January 2002 to further enhance its competitive position in the market. Customer expectations focus on geometric and functional aspects of the part designs. Customers also wish to decrease tool setup times and thus, reduce delivery times. BIWI SA utilizes the MPI/Flow, MPI/Cool and MPI/Fusion modules to locate the injection points, observe the end of the flow for proper mold venting and optimize the mold-cooling phase.

Philippe Claudel is a project manager at BIWI SA. He worked on the complete development of an electronic key support for a coffee machine. MPI software allowed him to optimize the design of the support, the shapes of the ribs, the flow pattern, the injection point location and the mold design. The part has been produced successfully from the first trial: no flow problems or sink marks have been noted. The part was in production only two-and-a-half months after the design phase was initiated.

Two people have received MPI training at the company. They completed the one-week Simulation Fundamentals training, followed by two days of advanced training concentrated on the MPI/Cool module. "In one week, we had the software in hand," explains Claudel. "For now, we use the software for 30 to 40 percent of our parts. The average time to complete a study is around one-and-a-half hours."

BIWI SA also works as a subcontractor. Some customers provide their product designs so that the company can create a mold, or they provide a mold to the company so it can launch production. The company owns 70 Arburg and Fanuc injection molding machines of various tonnages. If customer-provided parts or molds result in production problems, BIWI SA turns to MPI software to diagnose the problems and make any necessary corrections. "We especially look for time savings during setup, and we really get it thanks to the Moldflow Plastics Insight software," Claudel concludes.