Preform options aplentyPreform options aplenty
March 1, 2005
The market for PET preforms is growing at a rapid enough pace to keep machine manufacturers'' interest.
In the PET preform business, Husky (Bolton, ON) is the 800-lb. gorilla. Husky president and CEO Robert Schad says his firm controls about 50% of the market, based on total value of the machine market, and more than 75% of the market for large (72-cavity and up) machines.
Competitors are eager to chip away at that market share. Here is a brief report on what they''re up to:
Netstal: During K 2004, Netstal raised the output stakes with news of a 192-cavity PET-line machine running at its plant in Nafels, Switzerland; potential customers were flown in for a look. The first unit was sold before K to a U.S. molder who does not wish to be identified, but is a current Netstal customer, says Waldemar Schmitke, general manager for PET systems.
The machine can churn out about 80,000 preforms/hr for 500-ml mineral water bottles, about 15,000 more per hour than a press running a 144-cavity mold. Schmitke said lock-to-lock time on the 192-cavity system is comparable to that of one running a 144-cavity mold, although injection time is slightly longer.
Is there a need for these ultrahigh-volume systems? Few thought the 144-cavity mold would generate broad interest, but since its introduction in 2001, Husky claims to have sold more than 60 144-cavity systems; Netstal claims more than 10; Schmitke says two more are being shipped to a European molder.
On the show floor Netstal ran a PET-line, 96-cavity mold made by Swiss moldmaker Otto Hoftstetter AG. Hoftstetter has patented the means to separate the mechanical stroke so that hydraulics can be used to actuate the slide splits. Schmitke says the result is better thread definition, especially for shorter preforms. Netstal is the only machine maker offering these molds.
Engel: During the K, Engel ran a macPET press with a 96-cavity mold, making it clear the firm is not giving any ground in the large-cavity market. In fact, the firm says it will increase the horizontal platen dimensions on its entire macPET range so that high-cavity molds can be mounted on relatively small machines.
The 96-cavity mold at K was running on a 500-tonne machine, and Engel (Schwertburg, Austria) says the press can also hold a 144-cavity mold now that horizontal distance between tiebars has been increased from 620 to 720 mm. Engel also offers a 250-tonne-clamp-force macPET for 32- to 48-cavity molds, and a 320-tonne unit for 64- and 72-cavity molds.
Chen Hsong: The Shenzhen, China-based machine maker displayed a 48-cavity preform press at the K. "Molders with a wide variety of preforms often choose our machines," notes CEO Chiang Lai Yuen. She says demand for her firm''s machines, both PET and otherwise, has increased.
"So many molders are having trouble paying off loans for expensive machines, which is leading to increased demand for ours," explains Chiang. And reliability has become more important for processors everywhere, she says, as molders regardless of location are no longer satisfied with just a low price.
The firm''s Chen-PET system is now offered as a turnkey unit with all necessary automation. Hot runner production is in-house.
Dr. Boy GmbH & Co. KG: Boy and preform molding? Why not, counters the firm, based in Neustadt, Germany. While other machine makers are concentrating more on the high-volume machine range, this manufacturer''s preform molding machine is aimed at processors who need to make smaller batches, economically.
Based on the firm''s Boy 90 A (90-tonne clamp force), the preform unit is suited for running molds from two to 12 cavities, including those for wide-neck bottles. The firm says the unit makes sense for volumes of 250 to 2200 preforms/hr.
Husky: This firm has replaced its G-PET preform molding machine range with the HyPET, and has extended the HyPET range to allow it to compete better at lower outputs and with lower-cavity molds. G-PET units were available only with 300- or 600-tonne clamp force; HyPET is offered with six clamp options from 90 to 500 tonnes. Husky sold more than 75 last year.
At K, the firm ran a HyPET 120, which can hold up to a 48-cavity mold and can be counted on for about 120 million preforms/yr. The range runs from 90 to 500 tonnes of clamp force. "We are finding that firms that start at a 32- or 48-cavity mold eventually gravitate to larger machines," notes Mike Dileti, VP service and sales in the Americas.
Schad reckons that even with the increased number of competitors, Husky is gaining market share. He also says that while his firm is turning a profit in PET preform machines, he believes many others are not. Time will tell whether the market needs so many competitors.
Matthew Defosse [email protected]
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