In Process 18572In Process 18572

MACHINE YIELDS BETTER THAN 28,500 PREFORMS/HR

Upgrading to the company?s latest technology, Plastipak Packaging Inc. swapped out a 96-cavity G-PET system at its Garland, TX plant for a 128-cavity Index 600 preform machine from Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. (Bolton, ON). Now with 30% more cavities and a 16-second cycle, Plastipak is using the Index 600 to mold 38g, 20-oz isotonic beverage preforms at a clip of more than 28,500 preforms/hr.

The 43-mm mouth on the preform requires a heavy-thread finish, and on single-face systems, the longer cooling time required for those threads can unduly extend the cycle time. The Index cools the preforms internally from the core side and in the neck rings for an extra cycle before demolding, which is reported to shorten the product?s overall cycle and improve thread quality.Part of Husky?s new line of PET preform systems, which also includes the HyPET, the Index is available from two to 144 cavities.

For more information contact Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. at (905) 951-5000 or visit www.husky.ca.

CRATE PRODUCTION DEMANDS HIGH-SPEED MOLDING

To meet the demands of the Italian agricultural sector?s harvesting cycles, injection molder Luisa Zanotto must create approximately 4.5 million crates to hold produce in an eight-month span. To meet this, the company produces 20,000 to 23,000 crates weighing 300 to 500g every day, and it relies on high-speed molding machines from MIR to do so.

Simple geometries and virgin or reclaimed PP is used for the crates, which are molded in 8.8- (300g crate), 10- (400g crate), and 12-second cycles (500g crate). Zanotto runs MIR?s RMPE range, with presses up to 675 tons.

To achieve such fast cycles, the presses use superior-wear-resistance materials for components, and they overlap machine movements. Mold opening coincides with part ejection and screw rotation by way of a dedicated electric motor. The barrels and screws are elongated and feature special mixing and plasticating sections to create a more homogenous, injection-ready melt. Injection speed and pressure are handled by proportional valves and monitored with a closed loop control.

For more information contact MIR USA Corp. (Leominster, MA) at (978) 537-4792 or visit www.mirusa.com.

TWO-CAVITY HOT RUNNER MOLD MAKES CAR SPEAKER GRILLES

Gealan Formteile GmbH (Oberkotzau, Germany), in cooperation with PSG Plastic Service GmbH (Mannheim, Germany), recently designed a two-cavity hot runner mold for a grille to cover a car speaker. The part was manufactured out of rigid ABS and a soft TPE compound. The order is for 1.1 million units per year, with a cycle time under 40 seconds.

Gealan commissioned PSG to complete a 3-D fill analysis to design the hot runner system. The tools have one nozzle per cavity to inject the hard component. Two nozzles per part were installed diagonally to inject the soft material. Both components are injected directly onto the part without cold sub-runners.

For more information, contact PSG Plastic Service GmbH at +49 (621) 7162-0 or www.psg-online.de.

PROCESSOR'S THIRD BLOWN-FILM LINE

Battenfeld Gloucester (Gloucester, MA) has just installed a third blown film line at Danafilms (Westborough, MA). The line provides improved ability to maintain quality when producing the wide and large diameter rolls that converters increasingly specify to reduce changeovers. The equipment can wind 42-inch diameter rolls and, with a 22-inch die, achieve layflat widths of 70 to 90 inches.

The film producer supplies products for food packaging, bags, overwrap, duct tape, coatings, and lamination. It operates two plants, a 40,000-square-foot facility with 15 lines at its Westborough, MA headquarters, and a 50,000-square-foot site with three lines in Franklin, KY. The Franklin plant has lines only from Battenfeld. Two lines were originally installed, and the third was added recently.

For further information please contact German Laverde at (978) 282-9268 or visit www.bge.battenfeld.com.