PETpla.net Insider 09 / 2013

Sidel has introduced Sidel Matrix, its modular generation of PET bottling equipment. The company says that its latest equipment offering is “a broad, proven and upgradeable system” and offers improvements over previous generation machinery in terms of performance, flexibility, cost savings and sustainability. Sidel makes a number of claims in relation to its new Matrix product, including improved hygienic compli- ance, environmental friendliness, lower energy and material usage, and adaptability. It features some tried-and-trusted technology, along with some distinctly new develop- ments: the Ecoven oven is made to optimise energy consumption; electrical stretching improves mate- rial distribution; assisted changeovers cut downtime; and compressed air consumption is also cut. Grease-free components and fewer moving parts through the system are claimed to save on maintenance costs. The modular concept of Matrix is designed to interrelate with standard interfaces for “plug and play” oper- ability that can be configured accord- ing to customer needs. The modular approach is to integrate changes arising from both technological and market developments. A selection of options and upgrades are already available. The components are: the Matrix blower; Matrix fillers; Matrix Combi; and Matrix Rollfed labeller. Matrix Blower The Blower has a capacity of up to 2,250bph per mould and its modular architecture allows flexible configura- tion. Its three sizes of blowing station facilitate production of a variety of differ- ent bottle shapes, in sizes ranging from 100mm to 3.5l. The blower’s electrical stretching provides a better material dis- tribution and a more consistent process to ensure package integrity and consist- ency. In the blowing process, special neck protection, combined with an “embedded intelligence” for bottle qual- ity control and self-regulation, minimise the standard deviation of blown bottles and thus automatically reduces scrap. Assisted mould changeover between formats on a 20-cavity machine can take a single operator less than 15 minutes bottle-to-bottle with Sidel’s Bottle Switch system, helping to reduce downtime and manual labour costs and increase productivity and output. The installed Ecoven, a development that is designed for energy efficiency, requires fewer heating modules and lamps reduces preform-heating time and cuts electrical consumption by up to 45%. It has an oven-top reflector made of Sidel’s modular system approach Entering the Matrix PET planet insider Vol. 14 No. 09/13 www.petpla.net BOTTLE MAKING 44