PETpla.net Insider 10 / 2016

INSPECTION 29 PET planet Insider Vol. 17 No. 10/16 www.petpla.net Your recycling needs. Our grinding solutions. +49 2154-94390 info@triaplastics.de triaplastics.de Hall 09 / Booth E05 the handling, and any deformation as the bottle is tipped and contents poured. If the material is not properly distributed, the bottle will bend.” The material reduction requires extra caution as the margin for error shrinks and the remaining material must be in exactly the right places for the bottle to perform properly. “The Process Pilot system makes it possible for us to monitor the mate- rial distribution to a very precise degree,” Chimetto comments, “and with the automated controls, it main- tains the distribution throughout the production run. The total cost reduc- tion potential provided by Agr’s Pro- cess Pilot in labor, energy, scrap and material looks to provide for rapid pay- back and offers a competitive return on investment.” Optimising material orientation: CrystalView The partnership continues as Agr commercialises the next level of bottle optimisation, its CrystalView system for crystallinity/material orien- tation management. Working as an add-on option to the Process Pilot, CrystalView provides even more refined control of the blowmoulder, allowing it to maintain desired thick- ness distribution while pushing the envelope on lower stretching temper- atures, optimising crystalline struc- ture (orientation). Sanpellegrino just recently com- pleted an evaluation of the Process Pilot with CrystalView, and Chimetto is pleased with the results: “My team tells me the system makes it possible to see quality of the base in greater detail than we ever could before,” he says. This granular view helps antici- pate issues, typically those involving crystallinity due to overstretching or running the process too cold. “The sooner you know of the potential vari- ation, the better.” As an example, he cites an instance where test data revealed that two mould stations out of 20 were operating beyond the standard deviation. Previously, this condition would not have been detected until it showed up in a whitening of the base area, a waste of production time and material. The data were enough to indicate that these two stations needed attention. “We stopped the blowmoulder, made the adjust- ments, and further improved the overall process.” Finding the best stretching temperature is currently a trial- and-error process. When over- stretching is present, it is obvious. The operator knows the process- ing temperature needs to be raised to stabilise the process, but how much? Without a method to monitor the results, it is a matter of guesswork, taking time and risking the creation of waste, Chimetto points out. “This is where Crys- talView will add value, giving us the opportunity to increase the temperature the minimum amount necessary, not just whatever the operator might think it is.” Along with the energy sav- ings derived from operating at the lowest possible temperature for optimal production, Chimetto antic- ipates that the CrystalView will have the greatest impact on bottle stiffness and barrier properties. Stiffness relates to the customer experience through bottle feel, especially avoiding the oversplash- ing effect. Barrier properties are important for the shelf-life of the company’s carbonated beverages. A delicate balancing act “We want the best stretching, not overstretching. My team is very enthusiastic about this new equipment configuration, and I see some real advantages in these areas,” Sanpellegrino’s Applica- tions Group Packaging Manager concludes. www.agrintl.com www.sanpellegrino.com