Semi-automatic system clips 75% off of mold changeover times

Packaging machinery manufacturer Krones AG has developed a new system, called MouldXpress Advanced, to help operators of the company's Contiform stretch blowmolding machinery reduce mold changeover times by up to 75%. 

Krones (Neutraubling, Germany) says the system is integrated into a machine's blowing wheel and shortens the changeover time from about 3.5 minutes to less than one minute per blowmolding station. Rotary blowmolding machines from Krones are offered with 8-40 blowing stations, but so far the MouldXPress Advanced is only offered for the machines of the S16 to S28 series (16-28 mold cavities) and for relax-type molds with neck cooling.

Still, the time savings on a complete changeover on the 28-cavity machines can be up to 72 minutes, enough time to blowmold about 50,000 bottles on that machine.   

On the new system, the different mold sets are stored in a changing trolley, with the trolley's compartments labelled so as to avoid incorrect identification of the molds. No extra tools are required. —[email protected]