PETpla.net Insider 04 / 2011

TRADE SHOW PREVIEW 46 PET planet insider Vol. 12 No. 04/11 www.petpla.net Developments in drying, crystallisation and condensate separation Mann+Hummel ProTec will feature its new Somos D 200 dry-air dryer with its new MH 25controller, which controls the triggering of the dew point-constant dry air and, with other features, is claimed to offer more flexible operation. The dryer can be expanded from 200 u.m/h up to 500m³/h by adjustment to control technology; dried material throughput can be increased up to 250kg/h, without extra hardware. The redesigned rotary desiccant container process control reduces time needed for drying agent regeneration. The modular design allows flexible expansion, with drying hop- pers from 50 to 300l. For PET processing, material through- puts from 500 to 2,000kg/h are available, with larger sized dryers and dryer hoppers. The company’s new modular condensate separator enables return air to be cleaned of all volatile material, including monomers and dust particles. The condensate separator consists of three serially con- nected units. All are readily accessible and can be cleaned quickly and easily. Mann+Hummel ProTec Hall 9 Booth G10 Bericap Hall 10 Booth E67 Lightweighting in closure design Bericap will be showcasing developments in closure technology across a range of markets, including the bev- erage and food industries. The theme is lightweighting in closure design, with a particular emphasis on aseptic filling and hot-filling processes, but including new devel- opments for the food market; specifically for edible oil and squeezable products, and technical applications that pro- tect contents from counterfeiting and product piracy. In partnership with Egyptian juice processor Juhanya, Bericap recently introduced a one-piece 38mm closure for hot filling in PET. Bottlenecks are set to become lighter in future for both the 38mm and 28mm PET bottles currently on the market. A 33mm neck size will shortly complement the product range. In 2010, Bericap launched a 33mm closure, with a bottle neck co-designed with Sidel, which offers weight saving of approximately 30% on a 38mm neck. The closure is fitted with a folded and pre-cut tamper-evident band, which breaks when first opened. Bericap’s ‘push- pull next generation sports closure, fitted with DoubleSeal technology, is suitable for aseptic filling and for both wet and dry sterilisation. N2 dosing of the bottle is possible in aseptic filling processes. It requires no aluminium foil seal and offers a 30% higher flow rate compared to conven- tional products. The company’s new valve design for products such as ketchup and mayonnaise, a segment dominated by silicon valves, consists of two parts, both manufactured from the same material. This offers advantages with recycling. Bericap will also be showing a new range of closures for a 26mm bottle neck diameter to support the move towards saving on costs and materials in the edible oil industry. The new closure neck weighs 1.37g but has an inner diameter identical to the previous 29mm diam- eter closure. www.bericap.com SMI Hall 14 Booth D06/16 Integrated and energy-saving PET packaging Italian company SMI SpA will be presenting its new Ecobloc Plus system, an integrated solution for stretch-blow- ing, filling/capping and labelling of PET containers of capaci- ties from 0.2 to 3.0l, running up to 36,000bph. The system on its stand will feature an eight-cavity stretch-blowmoulder, producing 0.5l PET bottles from 11g preforms. The bottles will be filled and capped by a 66-valve electronic filler using ‘baseless’ technology and labelled with adhesive sleeves. Bottle transfer by direct ‘starwheel-to-starwheel’ handover eliminates the need for conveyors between the blower, filler/ capper and labeller. All Ecobloc Plus models are equipped with an air recovery system, which SMI says is an eco- friendly technology that cuts energy costs and provides up to 40% saving on high-pressure air consumption. The company will also be exhibiting a Smiflexi SK 350 F shrinkwrapper, running up to 35 packs/minute, combined with a Smipack’s HA40 handle applicator. Smiflexi packers are automated and controlled by Smitec division’s MotorNet System, based on a Sercos fieldbus. www.smigroup.it