PETpla.net Insider 10 / 2010

BOTTLE MAKING 50 PET planet insider Vol. 11 No. 10/10 www.petpla.net A deep grip New generation of container handleware Called Deep Grip packaging, the technology enables significant grip depth (more than 25mm or 1inch on either side), with an extremely thin (less than 0.3mm or .01inch) grip “web” thickness. (The grip web is where the hole would be in traditional handled bottles.) The end result is a grip deep enough for the average hand to completely close around without fingers touching the container wall. The comfort and handling ability is similar to that experienced with a traditional handle. Additionally, container size capa- bility is extremely broad - up to 6l or 1.5-gallons, and beyond. Maxi- mum bottle diameter is 220mm or 8.6inches. The development is one of the first commercially-viable handle proc- esses that harnesses the advantages of ISBM. Extrusion blow moulding is the process traditionally used to produce most handled bottles. ISBM enables lightweighting, higher output per cavity, mechanical benefits (top/ side load, drop and creep resistance) and smaller equipment footprint. The lightweighting (20-25%) is possible because, in addition to functional- ity, the grip geometry also provides structural benefits which enable a reduction in bottle gram weight. Bottles using the Deep Grip technology are made in a two-step process on Sidel equipment. The first step is conventional stretch blow moulding, followed by a proprietary secondary operation within the same machine which forms the handle. Because both the container and the handle are made from the same material, this eliminates downstream recycling issues and contributes to lightweighting objectives. Moreover ISBM allows the bottle to be blown and conveyed inline to the filling operation. This eliminates the additional step of manufacturing bottles in a different location (either within the same facility or remotely) and then transporting them to the pro- duction line. The objective was to create commercially-viable technology that is capable of producing up to 1,200bph/ cavity. Further, the process needed to be applicable to a broad range of ISBM bottle polymers including PET, HDPE, BOPP, PLA and others. A vari- ety of grip diameters and profiles are also possible. Target markets include detergents, household cleaners, non-carbonated beverages (juices, ready-to-drink teas, water, etc.), milk, edible oil, motor oil, baby bottles and other segments which are currently marketed in con- tainers with handles. The technology is also suitable for dry products and wide-mouth applications. Deep Grip technology is also suited for commercialization where high clarity is desired. For exam- ple, with larger PET containers with deeper grips, now commercially viable via ISBM, the capability opens the door to a variety of conversions. www.pti-europe.com www.sidel.com PTI-Europe, Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, in partnership with Sidel, Le Havre, France, is globally marketing a process which uses injection stretch blow moulding (ISBM) to create a new type of container handle. The technology was developed jointly with Procter & Gamble. (PTI-Europe is a subsidiary of Plastic Technologies, Inc. Holland, OH.) Could new stretch blowmoulded bottle process threaten extrusion blowmolding of handleware? A new type of container handle with significant grip depth was developed by PTI-Europe, Sidel and Procter and Gamble.