PETpla.net Insider 06 / 2013

PET products 42 PET planet insider Vol. 14 No. 06/13 www.petpla.net Form-fitting flexibility Italian company Sacmi claims cost sav- ings and flexibility with roll-fed tubular sleeves methodology from its new, modular Formsleeve+ machine Sacmi says that its new Formsleeve+ modular label- ling machine allows the creation and application of tubular sleeves created on the machine from roll-fed film stock. The sleeve is made on a series of motorized man- drels through the use of vacuum technology and sealed with a laser source controlled by a high speed scanner, and then applied to the container. A tunnel positioned at the outfeed of the labeller completes the shrinking process. The creation of the sleeve is integrated into the labelling process and Sacmi claims that this leads to sav- ings of up to 20%, compared to traditional shrink-sleeve solutions. The company further assets that its roll-fed technology allows a great deal of machine autonomy and, in addition, that it can be adapted to different film types. Furthermore, the laser welding process does not produce toxic gases such as ozone, dioxin or chlorine, in contrast to processes such as hot melt, ultrasound weld- ing or chemical solvents. The Formsleeve+ labels printer can print in machine direction orientation (MDO), which allows more lanes of graphic on the same web and helps to improve effi- ciency. MDO shrink roll feed can produce 20,000 (or more) impressions per roll, which is between three and four times as many labels per roll as the shrink-sleeve process. It has no need for tube formation and seam- ing, which helps to eliminate splitting seams and thus increase process speed. MDO shrink rolls are stacked and palletised, which leads to lower costs of packing and transportation, because more impressions per pallet can be carried. Savings in personnel and space can be achieved as the MDO method enables labelling speeds of up to 50,000bph on one machine. Formsleeve+ can work with several film types, includ- ing PET, which offers good shrinkage percentage and is adaptable to irregularly-shaped containers; PO and OPP for easier recycling and low film density; PVC for high- quality finish; PLA, which is an eco-friendly product with biodegradability; and OPS, for good printing quality and stable shrinkage. The Formsleeve+ can be equipped in different config- urations and combinations, for full or partial-body cover, for example. This layout optimisation enables smaller machine dimensions and thus make installation easier. At the same time, Sacmi says that the machines are designed to facilitate excellent accessibility for changeo- ver and for cleaning and maintenance. The “Plug and Label” system enables each labelling station moving cart module to be easily connected and disconnected from the machine base frame and replaced by other modules of differ- ent technologies and performances, according to need. www.formsleeveplus. sacmi.com Low-output solution for aseptic production Sidel recently launched a new low-output integrated aseptic blow-fill-cap solution. This low-output aseptic Combi Predis/Capdis FMa is based on the dry-preform and cap decontamination technology.With a standard output of 12,000bph for a 1l bottle, the new low-output solution can accommodate high- and low-acid products packaged in all common bottle volumes required by the market – between 0.2l and 2l, with outputs of up to 16,000bph. The new ver- sion is based on Sidel’s dry-preform and cap-decontamination system - Predis and Capdis. Attention has specifically been paid in the design of the low-output Combi Predis/Capdis FMa to accommodating it easily into new or existing plants through its ultra-compact footprint (up to 30% reduction in the footprint compared with existing linear solutions). Its linear design also allows for parallel packaging machines, a typical layout in the milk industry. With its special ‘plug and play’ conception, on-site installation is simpler and faster and can be managed in ‘hidden time’ while installing the rest of the line. Despite its compact design, the platform remains ergonomic and straight- forward. Accessibility to the machine’s key components has been ensured, allowing operators to maintain and manage it easily. Low-output production can also be a practical solution in regional markets which require smaller product volumes. In the dairy industry, low-output packaging solutions are common, particularly in UHT milk production. The new line is designed for markets and applications where smaller batches or smaller product volumes are required. www.sidel.com