Injection Molding, Thermoforming, Liquid Injection Molding, Pad printing, Laser engraving, Assembly

Indulgent frothed milk made easy

04/30/2019 | 4 min read

Danny Freund

Philips Saeco / Milk frothing system

Providing coffee lovers with perfect milk foam in their own homes – Philips Saeco has committed itself to achieving this goal with its new Philips 5000 LatteGo. Greiner Assistec delivers the entire milk frothing system for the device, which is attracting the market’s attention thanks to its easy-to-clean design.

Light, creamy milk foam is the key to a truly indulgent cup of coffee for many people. However, making the perfect foam is a real science – for an intense flavor experience, it is of utmost importance that the frother function flawlessly. Happily, more and more systems are able to deliver unique milk foams at the touch of a button, meaning that preparing the perfect cup of coffee is child’s play, even at home. The Italian household appliance manufacturer Saeco, which is part of the international Philips group, has now taken on the task of further improving this system. Until now, cleaning frothers has often been complicated, partly because of their numerous tubes.

Facts

Material

PBT-GFK 20 %
LSR
ABS
POM
PET

Technology

Injection molding
film thermoforming
liquid injection molding

Added values

Pad printing
Laser engraving
Labeling
Assembly

With the innovative LatteGo milk system that is used in the Philips 5000 LatteGo and other products, this inconvenience has become a thing of the past. The system consists of only two plastic parts, and these can be cleaned in less than 15 seconds under running water or in the dishwasher. For this reason, the system is currently the quickest to clean on the market.

Carafe Frame

Technology: Two-component injection molding
Added value: Laser Engraving

Blister

Technology: Thermoforming

Milk carafe

Technology: Injection molding
Added values: Labeling, Pad printing

Cover

Technology: Injection Molding

Collaboration between various locations

This innovative solution is being implemented by the plastics experts at Greiner Assistec. The complete assembly comes from a single source that produces all the required components. Three different Assistec locations – one in Romania and two in Austria – contributed their know-how to the project. The specifications were highly complex, and there was a tight timeline leading up to the market launch. This meant that forward planning was essential for the project’s success. By combining different technologies – injection molding, 2K injection molding, liquid injection molding, thermoforming, assembly, and testing – as well as several decoration processes – printing, laser engraving, affixing stickers –a component assembly was ultimately developed that takes into account all the customer’s preferences and offers users a whole new coffee experience. Six different coffee specialties can be created with the utmost ease using the coffee maker in combination with the milk system. If not all of the milk in the container is needed, it can be covered with a lid and stored in the refrigerator until its next use.

“The project was extremely complex, but in the end, we were able to work together to bring a really innovative solution onto the market. In Greiner Assistec, we have a partner that knows how to tackle challenging requirements using its technological expertise. The proximity of our two locations in Romania was an additional advantage.”

Nicola Bianco of Philips Saeco

Innovative technology mix

Prior to its delivery to the customer, Greiner Assistec’s milk frothing system underwent intensive testing. The entire product was first introduced at the IFA in Berlin, Germany. The Philips 5000 LatteGo has been sold worldwide since September 2018.