And done right, repeatable accuracy. The cycle time is shorter for electric machines. Hydraulic machines use oil, which means that there is time spent actuating valves and other components. With the electric machine, it is a matter of sending a signal to the motor and the equipment starts running. But perhaps not surprisingly, there is a bit of a delay in all of this.
Electric machines are more expensive than hydraulic machines.
Tawarada points out, however, that the prices for electric machines are coming down. Apparently, electric machines are finding wider use in Japan than in the U.S. because of the higher cost of energy there. But Tawarada says that UBE recently sold an electric machine to a U.S. OEM that was interested in the accuracy and cleanliness characteristics of the machine. UBE isn't turning away from hydraulic technology. This process permits the production of plastic parts with a fabric, vinyl foam, film, or skin insert, right in the mold.