Buyers compare three AMT families: full servo FS, hydraulic-servo HSS, and hydraulic LS. The decision is cycle time, energy, mold-change frequency, and who can service the drive — not which rendering looks newer.
Nameplate numbers from the machine pages
| Family | Speed | Typical power | Example forming area | When to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FS full servo | 40–50 cpm | 95–120 kW | FS-7842 780×420 mm; FS-8556 850×560; FS-8560 850×600 | 2–3 shifts, PP/PS/PET/PLA, planned mold family |
| HSS hybrid | 32–42 cpm | 80–105 kW | HSS-7842 780×420; HSS-8556 850×560 × 180 mm depth | Deeper parts, existing hydraulic tools, mid energy |
| LS hydraulic | 25–38 cpm | 65–90 kW | LS-780-600-II 780×600; LS-750-360-II Mini 750×360 | First line, lower cavities, local hydraulic spares |
Drive energy on servo formers is typically 20–30% lower than a same-size hydraulic press because motors draw when they move. Heaters still dominate the bill (often 60–70% of kWh). Competitors quote 12–18 month payback where electricity is expensive and the press runs around the clock.
Worked example — 20 million 200 ml PP cups / month
26 days × 20 h × 85% uptime. Need ~38,500 cups/h. At 30 cpm you need ~22 cavities after scrap. That usually fits FS-7842 or FS-7856, not automatically FS-8560. If the crew has never seen a servo drive and volume is half that, LS-780-420-II plus a later stacker is the safer first invoice.
Energy you can put on a spreadsheet
Heaters stay. The 20–30% saving is on the drive. A 100 kW nameplate that actually draws ~55 kW average on hydraulics versus ~40 kW on servo, 6,000 h/year, at US$0.12/kWh, is about US$10,800/year on the motors alone. At Gulf industrial tariffs the cash is smaller; the quieter hall and repeatable sheet index still matter on 24/7 water cups.
Decision rule
High kWh price + high volume → FS. Need forming force on a budget or local techs only know hydraulics → LS. Already own hydraulic molds and want a step up → HSS-8556 for 180 mm draws. Send cup drawing, material, and pcs/hour on the quote form.
Fault map — what the line is telling you
| Symptom | Likely cause | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Press never hits brochure 50 cpm | Deep PP, weak cooling, or year-one crew | Model 28–35 cpm until the mold freezes in time |
| Oil temperature climbs; cycles slow by afternoon | Hydraulic heat with a shared or small oil cooler | Separate oil loop; or move the duty to FS if the hall is hot |
| Sheet index walks; gram weight drifts | Hydraulic feed less repeatable than servo | Check HSS/FS feed; do not open the mold first |
| Neighbors or filling line complain about noise | Hydraulic 75–85 dB vs FS ~65 dB | FS if the hall sits next to offices or a filler |
| Mold change ate half a shift | No keys, no quick-connects, first-year crew | Budget an hour year one; specify changeover hardware now |
RFQ checklist — send this in one email
Fill what you know; blank is better than a guess. Attach it on Get a Quote with photos of resin or flake.
- Cup drawing (rim, height, wall) and resin
- Good cups / month and hours you will actually staff
- Who services the line today — hydraulic techs only, or a PLC engineer on site?
- Electricity tariff band and shifts (1 / 2 / 3)
- Existing molds: hydraulic or servo-ready? Depth needed (120 / 150 / 180 mm)
- Noise or clean-room constraint next to a filler
Frequently asked questions
How much quieter is full servo?
About 65 dB versus 75–85 dB on many hydraulic presses. Useful if the hall sits next to offices or a filling line.
Do I still need hydraulic oil on HSS?
Yes for forming force. Feed and some strokes are servo. You keep oil logistics but gain better sheet index.
Can I run PET on a hydraulic LS machine?
Yes if sheet is dry and the mold is cooled. Speed and energy will trail an FS of the same area.
What is a realistic mold change time?
Under 30 minutes with keys and quick-connects on a trained crew. Budget an hour in year one.
How do I model servo payback?
Use drive kWh only (not heaters), your tariff, and hours you will actually run. At cheap Gulf power the payback is longer; noise and index repeatability still count.