Illig (Heilbronn, Germany), a global supplier of high-performance production lines and thermoforming technology for the packaging industry, will showcase thermoforming equipment and in-mold labeling (IML) solutions at NPE 2015 (booth W-8052).

Illig will present the current generation of its RDKP series automatic forming machines with separate forming and punching stations. The IC-RDKP 72 machine working from roll stock and with a maximum forming area of 756 x 535 mm will produce a sophisticated hinged food pack made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The production line is equipped with a hole punch press, with a punching force of 600 kN, positioned between the forming station and steel rule punch press. It is employed to apply frequently required vending to the packs. The line works at a speed of up to 50 cycles per minute with a six-up mold. Illig will also demo IML decoration of thermoformed packs as well as high-volume production of coffee capsules on RDM-K series thermoformers at NPE2015.

Trays and hinged packs used for protection of food during transport and for presentation of food articles on supermarket shelves are manufactured on RDKP thermoformers from thermoplastic materials such as PS, PP and PET through to bioplastics such as PLA. The flexible production of medium and even small batch sizes with frequent material, format and mold changes is also possible on the machines.

High productivity achieved by consistent use of servo drives and process-controlled machine sequencing is effectively supported by the new Illig IC (Intelligent Control) concept. This allows the machine operator get the most out of the entire thermoforming line in terms of productivity and quality in an efficient manner. By using the IC accelerated mold change module, for example, processors can save time and the mold change can be carried out more reliably.

IML allows economical production of packaging with brilliant decoration in one cycle. The IC-RDML70 developed by Illig is a decorating unit tailored to those requirements that was first presented at K 2013. Since then, several IML-T lines were installed successfully at customer sites, and many more are in process.

At Interpack 2014, Illig also presented IML integration in a form, fill and seal line with the new FSL 48. A line equipped for this operation has been installed and is running production. Demand for high-quality decoration technology, as well as ways to meet the obligation to provide nutritional information on the label, will result in increasing applications of IML-T technology in thermo-forming, says Illig. With the IML-T machine program, ILLIG offers complete solutions for functional packaging that meet the highest decoration requirements.

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, especially the small and practical coffee capsules offered today for single serve cups. More than 95% of the thermoformed coffee capsules in the global market are manufactured on Illig’s RDM-K machines, according to the company. Each month, Illig thermoforming machines produce about 1.5 billion coffee capsules to stringent dimensional tolerances that are in the hundredths of a millimeter.