PETpla.net Insider 11 / 2011

PET products 46 PET planet insider Vol. 12 No. 11/11 www.petpla.net Moretto S.p.A. Via dell’Artigianato 3 - 35010 Massanzago (PD) ITALY Tel. +39 049 93 96 711 - Fax +39 049 93 96 710 www.moretto.com The innovative shape of the OTX hopper solves the falling flow problems of the granules and permits to keep the drying process under control. designed by Moretto Drying Revolution Stand 7A - 431 PETsleeve recycling solution ratified Sleever International’s PETsleeve solution for recycling biodegradable plastic films has been ratified by four leading waste collection and recycling companies: Cleanaway in the UK, Unisort in Germany, Returpack in Sweden and Visy in Aus- tralia. PETsleeve is based on TPE-G and -S films and was developed after 24 months of research. Trials conducted on standard bottles for carbonated and pasteurised drinks in the recycling circuits of these four countries showed that, thanks to a density lower than 1 (compared to an average of 1.3 for PET), the PETsleeve comes off the container by gravitation, automatically and completely. Sleever International says that this makes it possible to recuperate a 100% recyclable PET resin, which can be used to manufacture new bottles of identical quality. PETsleeve is currently the only PET decorative solution in the world holding recylcability ratification. The approval is valid for all its markets. The solution is being used for Aquarius, Coca Cola’s energy drink, in Belgium; Carlsberg Festis in Sweden; and Fruitval fruit juice for Andros in France. PETsleeve is adapted to helio-engraving and UV flexography printing in up to ten colours on both sides. With low density (solvent free) inks, PETsleeve can be implemented automatically on steam shrink Powersteam or infrared Powerskinner machines at speeds of between 15,000 and 30,000 bottles/hour. www.sleever.com High-speed, low-level palletising system Sidel says that its new high-speed SP 1000 HS palletiser offers the same level of performance in a low-level palletiser as operators have previ- ously experienced only from high-level machines. The company says that it has adjusted and upgraded its existing machines and processes and integrated intelligent software for improved produc- tivity. The core of the improvement is in making the layer preparation and pal- letisation functions work together faster and more effectively. Sidel’s new patent-pending ‘pusher’ is able to guide the layers alternatively to the right or to the left, while optimising the ‘return stroke’ time, tradi- tionally an’empty’ movement. The process is supported by a new software program, named Place (Pallet and Layer Automated Configuration Editor). It creates and man- ages diverse pattern configurations before the layer-formation phase. Sidel says this is particularly useful for short-batch runs. The software can be installed either on the touch screen operator panel or on a PC and is compatible with Sidel’s Robo-Smart and Axo-Smart layer-preparation systems. Sidel’s Robo-Smart and Axo-Smart form and prepare the layers as the packs come off the production line onto the conveyor belts. Layer, bottle and pack format changeovers are entirely automatic and soft- ware-managed; the operator simply chooses the required format on the operator panel controls and there is no need to stop the line. Any danger of packs falling due to oscillation has been minimised, as the device handling the pack travels at exactly the same speed as the surface on which the product travels. The SP 1000 HS pal- letiser permits use of either Robo-Kombi or Robo-Column, which physically picks up the packs and places them on the pallets. Sidel says that both solutions offer high- speed operation, integration with existing solutions, and versatile gripping for work- ing with different formats, including shrink-wrapped packs and empty PET bottles. www.sidel.com