Develops and manufactures the Handymold interchangeable frame system for injection molds from 15 to 250 tonnes clamping force.
Armin Spiess Werkzeugbau
9014 St. Gallen (CH)New on Amplifa
About Armin Spiess Werkzeugbau
Armin Spiess Werkzeugbau is a Swiss toolmaking company based in St. Gallen and developer of the Handymold system, an interchangeable frame system for injection molds. The starting point in 1990 was the cost pressure on injection molds in the area of prototypes, small and medium series. The system comprises interchangeable frames, insert packages and inserts, which are inserted into the injection molding machine as a complete unit without loose individual parts; it is proven for clamping forces from 15 to 250 tonnes and can be combined with hot runner systems from various manufacturers. In addition to manufacturing interchangeable frames and insert packages, the company offers Rapid Tooling, including 3D-printed cavities in inserts, as well as workshops, training and design examples for users in plastics application technology, mold making and training. By 2001, more than 2,500 insert packages had been built in Switzerland; since the expiry of patent protection in 2018, the design core has been available as open source.
- Site
- St. Gallen
- Processes
- Toolmaking (interchangeable frames and insert packages for injection molds), Rapid Tooling with Handymold (cavities in inserts manufactured by means of 3D printing), Injection Molding (user of injection molded plastic parts, molded parts identical to series, Interchangeable frame system for injection molds (Handymold system), Insert packages and inserts from stock, Ready-to-install, hardened inserts with cooling channels, Workshops and training on the system, Design examples and homologation of applications
- Materials
- Handymold interchangeable frame system, Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing), Hot Sides, Tool Steel (hardened)
- Certificates
- Homologation of applications
- Founded
- 1990
- Industries
- Plastics Application Technology / Injection Molding, Toolmaking, Mold Making, Rapid Prototyping / Rapid Tooling, Cable Protection Technology, Education and Research (Plastics Engineering)
- 01
Design and Development
- 02
Toolmaking (interchangeable frames, insert packages, inserts)
- 03
Hardening and cooling channels of the inserts
- 04
Homologation of applications
- 05
Sales, workshops and training
Materials and Processes
Handymold interchangeable frame system
Interchangeable frames and insert packages as system components for injection molds up to 250 tonnes clamping force.
Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)
Manufacture of cavities in inserts by means of 3D printing for Rapid Tooling.
Hot Sides
Standard versions with hot sides, combinable with hot runner systems from practically all manufacturers.
Tool Steel (hardened)
Ready-to-install, hardened inserts with cooling channels for cavities within one day.
Locations
St. Gallen
CHHeadquarters / Toolmaking
- Lot size
- Prototypes to medium series
- Materials
- Tool steel, plastics
- Interchangeable frames HM-025 ff / HM-045 ff
- Injection molding machines (application testing)
Products and Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toolmaking (interchangeable frames and insert packages for injection molds)Toolmaking/Injection Molding Systems | – | – | – | Prototypes – Medium series | Plastics |
| Rapid Tooling with Handymold (cavities in inserts manufactured by means of 3D printing)Additive | – | – | – | – | – |
| Injection Molding (user of injection molded plastic parts, molded parts identical to seriesPlastics | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injection molding machine | – | – | – | – | – |
| Interchangeable frames (Handymold HM-025, HM-045) for clamping forces from 15 to 250 tonnes | Armin Spiess Werkzeugbau HM-025 ff / HM-045 ff | – | – | 2006 | St. Gallen, Switzerland |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
The system is proven up to 250 tonnes clamping force; applications can be homologated by Armin Spiess Werkzeugbau. Inserts are evaluated according to the system rules with machining into the solid followed by hard machining.
| Evidence | St. Gallen |
|---|---|
| Homologation of applications |
History
- 1990
Development of the Handymold system concept at Armin Spiess Werkzeugbau due to cost pressure on injection molds for prototypes, small and medium series
- 1991–1993
Testing of the hardware-based solution for in-house use; examination of patentability
- November
First filing of the patent for a handling system for injection molds with the German Patent Office as well as registration of the figurative mark in Germany
- 1994
HATAG Handel- und Technik AG becomes sales partner for Switzerland; filing of examination applications in 26 countries (until 2001)
- 1996
Introduction of standard versions with hot sides
- 1997
Registration of the domain handymold.com; more than 50 users in Switzerland
- 2001
More than 2,500 Handymold insert packages built in Switzerland; offer for export and individual licenses
- September
Patent granted in Korea
- 12.10.2005
Canadian patent document accepted; all 26 patents legally granted
- 15.02.2006
New intermediate sizes HM-025 ff and HM-045 ff of interchangeable frames available from stock
- 10.01.2006
Ready-to-install, hardened inserts with cooling channels – molded parts within one day
- 01.01.2009
HASCO Suisse (formerly HATAG AG) discontinues sales in Switzerland; direct sales resumed by Armin Spiess Werkzeugbau
- 31.12.2010
Handymold design core released as open source
- 17.06.2012
Combination with additive manufacturing processes: cavities in inserts by means of 3D printing
- Frühling
Handymold word/figurative mark extended until 31.05.2025
- Herbst 2018
Worldwide patent protection expired after 20 years; Handymold becomes completely open source