At KUTENO 2025, May 13-15 in Bad Salzuflen, Germany, Haitian will present the latest company developments, an updated product portfolio and a live application at booth 20-G37. At this year’s Kuteno, the Zhaifr Zeres Series will once again be in the spotlight, demonstrating a practical approach to process optimization and sustainable, efficient production.

The Zeres Series, with its fifth gqeneration launched in Europe last year, is now well established and recognized in the market. Its electric concept with integrated hydraulics makes it suitable for a wide range of production requirements. Combined with the intelligent HT·XTEND functions – standard on the Haitian and Zhafir machines – the electric toggle machine embodies ease of use, integrated process optimization functions and production flexibility.

One special HT·XTEND feature on display is HT·OptiForce, which accurately calculates the minimum clamping force required by monitoring tie bar expansion during injection. At the touch of a button, operators benefit from:

• Mold preservation: Targeted clamping force reduction extends mold life and reduces maintenance.
• Scrap reduction: Optimized mold breathing minimizes surface defects, even in highly glazed cavities.
• Energy efficiency: Lower clamping forces reduce energy consumption, supporting cost-effective production.

Live at KUTENO

At KUTENO a Zeres ZE600V-80 B22 will demonstrate the production of a polycarbonate (PC) optical lens using a mold from IWPM Ofr. GmbH & Co. KG with a cycle time of 34.5 seconds and a shot weight of 13.85 grams. In addition, a dryer and temperature control unit (TCU) from Haitian Smart Solutions, a sister company of Haitian International, provide stable processing conditions.

On top of the live demonstration, visitors can explore the latest developments in the Haitian machine portfolio, not only in terms of new injection molding machines but also regarding integrated automation solutions.

Haitian at KUTENO: Booth 20-G37

In the heart of Austria, the Beneder Kompetenzgruppe is a trailblazer in plastics processing. Founded in 1965, the company has grown from modest beginnings in a garage workshop to become a versatile business known for its unique service portfolio, expertise and innovative approach.

Combining toolmaking and plastics engineering, the Beneder Group employs 45 people and delivers end-to-end solutions to customers worldwide, particularly in Europe. Characterized by family values, Beneder has steadily grown over three generations, with consistent investment in technology, talent and infrastructure. Its unique selling point? Everything from a single source: from the idea to toolmaking to the production of plastic parts and finishing techniques such as aluminum evaporation and assembly. This “one-stop solution” capability makes Beneder a particularly reliable partner and has enabled it to build long-term relationships with customers in industries such as automotive and lighting technology.

From left: Thomas Fasching (COO Büchler), Martin Büchler (Managing Director Büchler), Rudolf Derntl (Operations Manager Beneder), Lukas Beneder (Managing Director Beneder)

A day at Beneder: A look behind the scenes

We are guests in the picturesque Josefstal, accompanied by Büchler GesmbH, which has been responsible for the sales area in Austria for over 30 years and has already mastered a number of challenges together with Beneder. We are speaking with Lukas Beneder, third-generation managing director, and Rudolf Derntl, who has shaped the company for over three decades as operations manager.

As we enjoy doughnuts and coffee – it is the beginning of carneval season – Lukas Beneder and Rudolf Derntl tell us enthusiastically about their customers, the special requirements of their products and the refinements of lighting technology. Whether small series for private individuals or well-known department stores, their passion for their work is evident in every word they speak. Rudolf Derntl gives us the keys of lighting technology. 100% product quality, especially on the surfaces of reflectors and lenses, as well as the high durability of the parts, are top priorities. A large proportion of the products are also supplied to the automotive industry, where Beneder supplies components for headlights and technical parts.

But things are changing in Josefstal as well. “We are fortunate that we are less affected than others as a contract injection molder with our broad portfolio,” says Lukas Beneder. “Nevertheless, we have to operate more cleverly than before. Complexity is increasing not only on the product side, but to the same extent in business management.” Which brings us to the second important aspect besides quality: flexibility at maximum efficiency.

These circumstances led to Beneder’s first encounter with Haitian’s Zhafir electric brand last year. “Without Büchler as a local partner, we probably would not have looked into Haitian if it were not for the advantages and solid specifications of the electric Zeres,” explains Rudolf Derntl.

Lukas Beneder reports that the decision in favor of Haitian was ultimately based on a variety of factors. These included technical specifications, reliability, energy savings and, last but not least, Büchler’s expertise in selecting the appropriate peripherals, service and free on-site training. “And because the price of the machines was ‘quite ok’, we immediately added a second one,” smiles Rudolf Derntl.

A tour of the production plant

After the interesting conversation, we set off with the two of them to the production halls. The tour first takes us through the showroom, where Beneder impressively presents its extensive expertise. Production then takes place on two floors. Toolmaking on the second floor and injection molding on the second. The machinery comprises a total of 16 state-of-the-art injection molding machines.

On entering the production area, we immediately notice the numerous tools on the high shelves – flexibility and quality are indispensable for each individual machine from Beneder.

Among the machinery, we quickly spot the two Zeres machines from Haitian International, equipped with Haitian Hilectro robots. The IMM’s have a clamping force of 120 t and 60 t. “As a typical production schedule, we use the two machines to manufacture technical components and light reflectors. The average time that the tools remain on the machines is about 80 hours.” These are the only two electric machines in production to date.

At the Zeres 1200-430, Rudolf Derntl shows us the current series: a technical headlight component made of PP with 30% glass fiber. The cycle time is 15.8 seconds with two cavities. In the immediate neighborhood, the smaller Zeres 60t produces reflectors that are a prime example of precision and consistency.

“Sometimes you have to adapt a little if you usually produce on tie-bar-less machines, but otherwise we are very satisfied with the two machines,” says plant manager Rudolf Derntl. Also, the often dreaded problems with relearning a different control system were not an issue due to the intuitive menu navigation.

During our tour, we also come across a 600-ton machine (Beneder mainly produces on smaller clamping force sizes), which is no longer in regular use. “Smaller parts and series are now the trend in the industry,” explains Lukas Beneder. “The flexibility of our machinery and, of course, our many years of expertise allow us to react dynamically to these developments while ensuring the highest quality.”

A glimpse into the future

The visit at Beneder is encouraging even in difficult times. The meaningful transformation from tradition to innovation is in good hands with Lukas Beneder and his experienced team, also in the third generation. There is no shortage of skilled workers or a general lack of company know-how. Beneder has hardly any employee turnover; to date, every second apprentice has spent their entire career in the company. Although there are of course challenges that are difficult to overcome, according to Beneder, with its in-depth know-how, broad portfolio and not least the integration of modern technologies with a strong focus on quality and customer satisfaction, the Beneder Group is well prepared for the future.

We hope to continue to support the company and thank them for the pleasant visit!

https://beneder.at/

HT·Inject is included in the standard package and can be easily integrated into existing production processes without the need for additional training.

Live at Fakuma: A series of tests with the 5th generation of the MA2000V using HT·Inject and recyclate PP achieves impressive results: the weight tolerance of the molded parts is reduced from 1.4 % to 0.49 %. 

HT·XTEND stands for the digital transformation of the new series at Haitian International. Our 5th machine generation combines hardware with digital intelligence for self-optimizing production. The fact that the software is developed and programmed entirely in-house not only gives Haitian flexibility and independence, but also ensures that maximum cost efficiency and quality are achieved. The majority of HT·XTEND functions are available in the standard configuration and can be operated without training, delivering immediately visible results.

HT·OptiForce precisely and intelligently calculates the minimum clamping force required by monitoring the tie bar expansion during the entire injection phase and gradually reducing it to a minimum. This feature is suitable for every application and allows the operator to set the optimum clamping force at the push of a button.

Preservation of the mold: The targeted reduction of the clamping force preserves the mold, extends its service life and reduces maintenance costs.

Reduction of scrap: OptiForce achieves the best possible mold breathing, so that the proportion of scrap and surface defects such as flow lines, especially in the case of highly glazed cavities, is greatly reduced.

Energy efficiency: Minimizing the clamping force significantly reduces energy consumption, which contributes to cost-efficient and sustainable production.

The efficiency of this feature will be demonstrated live at Fakuma 2024 on a Zeres1200 medical, where the clamping force is reduced from 500 kN to 80 kN – without compromising on product quality.

We look forward to your visit in Hall A1 / 1103.