Integrated system for blow-moulding, filling and capping
The integrated plants of smi group’s new Ecobloc Ergon series are launched as a solution for the blow-moulding, filling and capping of PET and PP containers for the bottling of still and carbonated water, soft drinks, milk and edible oil up to 3l at the maximum output of 33,600 bottles/hour (0.5l). The series includes also high-capacity models (Ecobloc HC) for containers up to 10l and maximum output of 7,200 bottles/hour (5l).
The new EBS (Electronic Blowing System) Ergon comes from SMI’s 20-year-old expertise in the manufacturing of rotary stretch-blow moulders and is said to offer advantages in terms of cost reduction and operational flexibility; for instance, the integration of three functions in one compact block eliminates the conveyors connecting blow-moulder and filler, thus simplifying both the management and the maintenance of the plant.
The EBS Ergon blow-moulder represents the core of the integrated Ecobloc system and is the outcome of a 2-year intensive R&D project which has introduced innovative concepts for both the design and the production of the blowing systems:
• the blow-moulding module is equipped with motorised stretching rods whose functioning is controlled by electronic drives with no need of mechanical cams, enabling a precise management of the stretching rod’s stroke, the accurate control of its position and energy savings if compared to traditional solutions;
• the new Ergon technology allows the adjustment of the stretch speed without mechanical interventions besides reducing the stress generated by the vibrations the blow-moulding carousel undergoes in traditional plants;
• the Ecobloc Ergon series boasts an utterly electronic filling technology, intended to ensure a high level of precision and hygiene, along with a synchronisation with the stretch-blowing module;
• the operator can easily and safely access the inner part of the machine for maintenance and cleaning operations, since the area beneath the bottles is completely free;
• thanks to a simple and intuitive man-machine interface, the machine’s automation and control system allows to have the machine stopped by just one operator.
