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Husky’s Mike Urquhart says European molders are quenching their thirst for PET preform systems with Husky’s newer HyPET and Index machinery.

Officially rolled out early in 2004, a Husky official says the company had sold more than 75 of its HyPET and Index PET preform systems by October, most of them going into Europe.

"The industry is switching over," says Mike Urquhart, VP of Husky’s PET and Closures business. "Europe especially has led the charge in the conversion to HyPET."

Urquhart says Europeans have bought most of Husky’s HyPET 300s, adding that the company has for the first time made significant inroads in other markets and regions with its smaller HyPET 120 and 225 systems.

"When we rolled out HyPET, we included a broader range of machine sizes to appeal to new market segments. That approach has been validated by the sales success of the smallest systems. Customers who have invested in the new systems are having great success, and we’re seeing a lot of repeat orders."

HyPET machines, available in six clamp options from 90 to 500 tons, can handle higher cavitation in smaller-tonnage machines than their predecessors can. And Husky’s Index 600 platform, available with up to 144 cavities, reportedly is becoming the system of choice for high-volume, thick-walled parts.