(Nafels, Switzerland) used the Fakuma trade show last week to again demonstrate its prowess at high-speed molding of thin-walled parts, running an Elion 1200-530 electric machine at speeds of 3 seconds on a 2-cavity PP cup mold with inmold labeling, and also had two other machines from its Elion electric press range in operation. The Elion, introduced by Netstal at the K Show in October 2004, has proven a runaway success, said Reto Morger, the firm’s marketing manager, so that Netstal intends in the near-term to expand the clamp force available on the range from the current limit of 175 tonnes higher up the scale; how high is not yet set.

The company also recently introduced its Calitec cooling technology for molding of PET performs; Netstal claims #2 placing in the market for PET perform molding equipment behind Canada’s Husky, with the two of them controlling fully 80+% of the market, said Morger. The Calitec system, patent pending, works by placing slight pressure via compressed air on a preform’s interior during the post-cooling phase. This prevents the perform from shrinking away, as it is uniformly pressed onto the cooling sleeve. Cooling is not interrupted, and the perform also enjoys a sort of calibration, much like a plastic profile. Because the entire circumference of the perform contacts the cooling sleeve, Calitec helps molders ensure perform uniformity and helps speed cooling cycles.

A field test customer (unidentified) using Calitec since September 2007 has told Netstal it saw productivity increases of more than 10%, in addition to improved perform geometry. The system now is available as an option for new PET perform molding systems or can be retrofitted to existing systems.