Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Meeting with Dominique Lahousse, Wittmann Battenfeld
Following WITTMANN BATTENFELD's participation in the FIP – France Innovation Plasturgie trade show held last April, we met with Dominique Lahousse, Sales & Marketing Director France, for an exclusive interview. He shares the latest innovations developed by their Group, offering robotic, eco-friendly, and integrated solutions for plastics processors, and also reveals the importance of an event like FIP.
FIP is today the largest event in France bringing together plastics processors from across the country under one roof. It is a unique opportunity to engage with visitors about their various projects and demonstrate the effectiveness of our support.
What types of solutions do you offer in plastics processing?
WITTMANN's product range includes injection molding machines, robots and automation systems, material handling equipment, dryers, gravimetric and volumetric feeders, grinders, temperature controllers, and chillers. With this comprehensive range of equipment, WITTMANN is able to provide integrated solutions that cover all production requirements, from standalone production cells to systems with centralized management.
The WITTMANN Group has developed connectivity across all its products, providing solutions for plastics processors seeking simplified integration of injection molding machines with robotics and peripheral equipment, enabling better monitoring and higher profitability in their processes.
Which sector, industry, or profession are your solutions aimed at?
Our solutions target the plastics industry as a whole: packaging, automotive, construction, electrical and electronics, medical, agriculture, leisure, furniture, and more. We support manufacturers throughout the development and implementation of their projects, regardless of the specific trades within the plastics industry.
How do these innovations support companies in implementing a circular economy approach?
Far more than an economic concept, the circular economy is the future of the plastics industry. As an equipment supplier, WITTMANN’s mission is to provide manufacturers with solutions that combine economic and environmental benefits, supporting clients in eco-design—that is, a process aimed at reducing a product’s environmental impact throughout its entire life cycle, starting from the design phase.
Today, the WITTMANN Group is the only company in the world to offer a complete solution through the interaction of injection molding machines, automation, and peripheral equipment. This capability provides a winning solution for true efficiency, both in terms of energy and cost, while ensuring process reliability. Among the products offered by the Group are grinders manufactured by the French subsidiary, specifically designed to reintegrate ground material into the production chain through models with slow or fast speeds, positioned either at the machine base or under the press.
Nowadays, our clients can see injection sprues and scrap not as waste, but as a valuable raw material, and our mission is to support them in this approach. Economically, the material savings achieved through the reintroduction of ground material allows the purchase of a WITTMANN grinder to be amortized within just a few months.
Beyond eco-design, we are fully aware of the energy challenges of tomorrow, which is why we ensure that our presses are currently the most energy-efficient on the market. To demonstrate this, we provide an energy comparison between our presses and those of competitors—the results speak for themselves.
How is a trade show like FIP beneficial for your company?
FIP is today the largest event in France, bringing together plastics processors from across the country under one roof. It is a unique opportunity to engage with visitors about their various projects and demonstrate the effectiveness of our support. FIP is a must-attend event in France and provides a unique opportunity to showcase our latest innovations, such as our injection molding machine powered by renewable energy sources.