PETpla.net Insider 09 / 2010

BOTTLE MAKING 30 PET planet insider Vol. 11 No. 09/10 www.petpla.net Extending older Determining the appropriate strategy for maintaining exist- ing equipment can be a challenge for manufacturers, yet it is vital to remaining competitive. Having an equipment mod- ernisation strategy, including the implementation of appro- priate refurbishment and upgrades, as well as replacement of older existing equipment, is key to maximising profitabil- ity. Husky offers a proactive program. The goal for manufacturers is to produce parts at minimum cost while maintaining part quality, functionality and reliability. The right plan of action varies for each specific manufacturer and operation. Various total solutions suppliers, who are familiar with the latest technologies, can help to deter- mine the optimum strategy. Some leading companies in the industry offer structured, proactive programs to help customers get the most value out of their assets. The Encore program, from Husky Injection Molding Sys- tems, is one example. Encore is designed to help injec- tion moulders maximize the life of existing Husky systems. The program consists of structured new technology upgrade solutions that address spare parts obsolescence and increase existing system performance. beverage packaging industry, it is inter- ested in maximizing the life cycle of its existing injection moulding equipment. The manufacturer has several Husky PET preform systems run- ning in their facility, ranging from one to almost 20 years old. For nearly a decade, Husky’s Services team has regularly provided the company with machine maintenance, performing yearly inspection audits and build- ing a system maintenance data base. As their systems aged, San Pel- legrino Acqua Vera wanted to take a more proactive approach to maintain optimal operational effectiveness. About two years ago it began experi- encing problems with obsolete parts. The Husky Services team began by assessing one of the oldest systems in San Pellegrino Acqua Vera’s facil- ity, a 17-year old Husky PET preform system. The recommendation was the implementation of the Encore Performance Series program, which included an audit, refurbishment, and fine-tuning to ensure the system was running to optimal capacity. Husky also optimized the system’s mould in terms of throughput and also tested three preform moulds for different applications, in order to ensure opti- mized cycle times for each. System before (left) and after (right) complete new electrical cabinet with Polaris controls and HMI. (Also included but not shown are latest technology hydraulic and robot motion components.) The Encore program may include both tooling and machine upgrades. It is broken down into two distinct series: the Maintenance Series and the Performance Series. The former is ideal for manufacturers who are satisfied with existing equipment productivity but want to address potential downtime and machine reliability issues arising from parts obsolescence. The latter includes all Maintenance Series features and, in addition, is designed to significantly increase productivity and equipment energy efficiency, to as-new or better- than-new levels. San Pellegrino Acqua Vera Part of the Nestlé Waters Group, San Pellegrino Acqua Vera is one of Italy’s leading bottled water compa- nies. Like many manufacturers in the