This autumn at the K-2001 plastics technology exhibition, Moldflow will show its Plastics Insight software Version 3.0 for the first time.

This autumn at the K-2001 plastics technology exhibition, Moldflow will show its Plastics Insight software Version 3.0 for the first time. Moldflow Plastics Insight Version 3.0 Software (MPI 3.0), otherwise known as Synergy, integrates the best features of Moldflow Plastics Insight 2.0 (MPI) and C-MOLD 2000 products into a single product family. Many new features have been added.

The high-level features include a new user interface, new design of experiments manager, an expanded materials database, an enhanced CAD interfaces, Fusion and 3D enhancements, results interpretation, and reports.

Moldflow Corporation's exhibition plans for K-2001 (Dusseldorf, Germany, 25 October to 1 November) also centre round the company's full spectrum of Moldflow Manufacturing Solutions, including Moldflow Plastics Xpert, Shotscope and EZ-Track.

EZ-Track allows users to monitor critical production functions with precision and detail.

The technology helps manufacturers improve productivity, minimise downtime, evaluate labour, and track materials.

EZ-Track's allows operators to monitor hundreds of machines simultaneously, including a combination of injection moulding machines and auxiliary and assembly equipment.

The product is compatible with most commercial ERP and MRP systems.

Real-time data can be easily output in a wide range of formats to provide up-to-the-minute, enterprise-wide production status, trends and analysis reports.

Moldflow Plastics Xpert (MPX) is designed to help process engineers and plant managers control moulding processes by providing shop-floor solutions to the problems associated with injection moulding machine set-up, process optimisation, and production part quality.

The software's intuitive functionality means that moulding machine operators need not have advanced expertise for every machine being run.

MPX results are able to be documented to meet strict quality control reporting requirements.

In addition, the technology facilitates faster set-up times, reduced scrap rates and costs, as well as improved product quality and consistent production yields.

The Shotscope products for plastic injection moulding helps moulders improve productivity, minimise scrap and machine downtime, and effectively increase plant capacity.

The technology runs on the Windows NT platform.

Shotscope interfaces with other plant-management systems.

By automating administrative activities such as scheduling jobs, detecting and classifying downtime, identifying and categorizing scrap, as well as tracking tool and machine maintenance, it eliminates the need to assign valuable machine floor personnel to time-consuming tasks.