PETpla.net Insider 03 / 2015

EDITOUR REPORT 11 PET planet insider Vol. 16 No. 03/15 www.petpla.net New, continuous development of the two preform sys- tems will naturally focus on increasing production efficiency and profitability.” Markus Dal Pian continued, “For example, in calculating the cost of a preform, energy costs come in second place (behind raw material costs), amounting to 40-45% of the pure production costs. Reason enough, if any were needed, to continue along this path,” concluded Markus Dal Pian. The hybrid drive concept, for example, has been further optimised by a variable-speed main motor with an appropriately adapted pumps array. In composite of the power converters, kinetic energy can be reclaimed and a melt treatment that has under- gone further development not only saves energy but also improves melt quality. Closed loop control axes ensure rapid movements and transfers and the unloading device is not only compatible with 2400/4000, but also with the previous model PET-Line 3500. The Calitec (trademark) and Preblow (trademark) should not be omitted from consideration; they may con- tribute towards shortening the cycle time or reducing the weight of the preforms. Production example of a 0.5l still water preform:  PET-Line 2400  Injection moulding mould, 72 cavity Hofstetter Switzer- land.  Cycle time 5.4sec.  Key markets for PET-Line systems:  China, Korea, Africa and the Middle East, Americas and Europe PETForm Today it is not only the project work for the PETForm preform system with a vertical clamping unit formerly marketed by Krauss Maffei that is carried out by Netstal together with the marketing, but the system is also assem- bled in Näfels. The range comprises two machine sizes with a 175 (up to 60 cavity) and 320 (up to 112 cavity) tonne clamping force. Dominating the sales figures is the PETForm 175 preform system. This system is a typical entry level system and is thoroughly at home in virgin mar- kets. There is also a customer base that has been devel- oped over a number of years and which remains faithful to the vertical system. A considerable number of PETForm preform systems supplied annually are distributed as fol- lows: Eastern Europe, Thailand, Indonesia, Africa and India. Prelactia This technology-focus is on 2-layer preforms, manufac- tured using the overmoulding process known as PreLactia. The PreLactia preform system is used predominantly for UHT milk bottles in situations where a shelf life of more than 6 months is required. The range includes a 240t hori- zontal machine for operation with a 24 or 32 cavity mould. Markets: Mexico, France and Brazil. Machines for Plastic Closures In the caps and closures sector, Netstal has special- ised in the one-piece version, for the PET beverages bot- tles sector, for multi-piece cardboard packaging (“bricks”) and speciality closures such as flip-tops or functionality closures. By contrast to the preform machines (systems), the closure caps machinery business commenced with the supply of injection moulding machines specially devel- oped for the product, followed by a gradual but consistent transformation into complete system solutions. Systems business tends to converge more on specific countries although of course they are sold world-wide. The devel- opment of new closure geometries and weight optimisa- tion makes very high demands on the injection moulding machines in terms of speed and precision without at the same time having a negative effect on energy consump- tion. For this reason, according to Markus Dal Pian, Netstal is opting for the Elion hybrid series, with a machine range from 2200kN up to 4200kN allowing the implementation of the most common mould sizes. The Evos series covers wide mouth closures up to 72 cavity and the high volume card-board closures whereas the Elion hybrid range is deployed in closures systems up to 96 cavities mainly for 26 to 32mm diameters and flip top closures where the free programmable aXos control can show all the advantages in programming complex mould movements.The standard beverage closures today are mostly produced on the Elion machines in a range between 48 to 96 cavities. f.l.t.r.: Waldemar Schmitke PETplanet and Markus Dal Pian, Vice President Marketing and Sales Netstal in front of the Edi- tourmobil at the premises in Näfels Switzerland.