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A Rotomolding Machine with a Spherical Oven

Brazilian manufacturer Rotoline Industrial Equipment has developed the world’s first rotational molding machine with a spherical oven. Lacking doors, the design of the Sphere Oven SO 1.60 splits at the equator to open vertically; Rotoline says this allows a more homogeneous air flow, reduces heat loss and increases efficiency.

But the real reason the company developed the door-less design is to do away with the pesky human worker required to open and reach inside that door. And load the machine to begin with. The SO 1.60 has been designed to be fully automated, from weighing and feeding the stock to removing the part; the former is achieved by built-in scales—up to four, in case you’re using different colors—and the latter is tackled by robotic arms.

Here’s a video of the machine in action. It’s all in Portugese, but you can figure out what’s going on: