Case Studies
The Power of Partnership
Illig Case Study
September 2023
ILLIG doesn’t just build machines; we build partnerships. This new case study offers a real-world example of how one large, custom forming company truly engaged in a working partnership with ILLIG to deliver serious outperformance.
When Engineering Meets Intuition
Illig Case Study
September 2023
In a world where mass customization has become the norm, manufacturers must be nimble and flexible to meet the needs of both start-ups and established customers. Short production runs don’t automatically mean that you have to skimp on tooling or materials. A commitment to the highest engineering standards is what drives ILLIG’s reputation for quality. Intuitive user systems, however, are what drive a customer’s profitability.
Zig When Others Zag
Illig Case Study
May 2023
Warren Buffett famously said that investors should be “fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.” Contrarians often must wait to be vindicated and not everyone has the nerve or patience to make bold calls. One of our North American foodservice packaging customers, however, effectively used the Buffett axiom to invest in the latest technology and dramatically improve production efficiencies.
Flexibility + Efficiency = Profitability
Illig Case Study
May 2022
“Bigger is better” has been the dominant mindset for a generation or more, with massive production volumes enabling low piece-part costs. Large-bed US forming systems have the advantage of size which leads to massive output. Yet hidden operational costs can impact profitability and labor turnover. Bigger extruders, bigger machines, bigger tools. But increasing mass leads to increases elsewhere: time, people, waste.
CPET Light – Recycled Material Can Take the Heat
Illig Case Study
March 2022
The sustainability of plastic packaging is increasingly determined by its recyclability. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the world’s most recycled plastic and is ideal for packaging food. Building on this knowledge, Sukano and Illig have launched an initiative to enable the use of PET in cups and trays for microwave and hot fill applications. The result is a possible alternative to the PS and PP applications that are often used today but that are either unsuitable for recycling or are not food compliant.
ILLIG & Sekisui Virtual Collaboration
Illig Case Study
September 2021
Whether it’s Zoom, Teams, Webex, or any other online platform, the ability to meet remotely is a trend that accelerated during the pandemic and shows no sign of relenting. In March 2021, the technical teams at Sekisui Kydex, LLC and ILLIG Maschinenbau Gmbh & Co. KG began discussions about thermoformability of different grades of KYDEX thermoplastic antimicrobial materials.
Industry Veteran Chooses ILLIG Reliability
Illig Case Study
December 2020
It is said that experience is the best teacher, so when a 30-year veteran of the US market offers some wisdom about thermoforming equipment, it’s likely that he has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. “I’ve been in thermoforming for almost 35 years now and I’ve watched the technology evolve. Based on what I’ve seen and learned, ILLIG’s machines are still the most reliable.”
More Parts, Less Labor
Illig Case Study
October 2020
It is safe to say that when most thermoformers are asked about automation, they typically think of end-of-line solutions related to part removal. It is not, however, a one-size-fits all answer. From simple A/B stacking mechanisms to fully articulated robotic palletizing systems, there are a lot of ways for thermoformers to move parts.
ILLIG Dynamic Process Optimization
Illig Case Study
July 2020
Efficiency is not just a buzzword: it’s a business imperative. Whether you’re performing takt time studies, factory gemba walks, or simply reducing scrap rates, the common theme is doing more with less. For machine operators, this means going from start-up to production in as few steps as possible. Illig’s patented Dynamic Process Optimization offers intelligent and intuitive controls that enable high-quality parts quickly and easily.
Old Tool + New Machine = Faster Production
Illig Case Study
June 2020
When customer demand is clear and capital is available, it is a relatively simple decision to invest a million dollars into a state-of-the-art, profitable piece of equipment. “Today, we contine to work with Illig to refine our process but have thus far seen an average cycle rate increase of nearly 50% across multiple tools.”