PETpla.net Insider 07 / 2017

BOTTLE MAKING 12 PET planet Insider Vol. 18 No. 07/17 www.petpla.net The use of PET is steadily gain- ing market share in FHPC markets traditionally dominated by HDPE (high density polyethylene) and PP (poly- propylene). In 2016, PET packages accounted for 29 billion units for Food, 7 billion units for Personal Care and 8 billion units for Home Care, accord- ing to Euromonitor. These figures are expected to grow by an average of 3% for all three sectors by 2020. Sidel’s new SteadyEdge base, along with attractive PET package design variants, is said to ensure stable and cost-efficient production. Creative and distinctive package With SteadyEdge, brands will appear exactly as intended. The new base technology is designed to meet the challenge of producing flat, oval and rectangular containers in PET, which all require a specific production process that delivers the optimum material distribution of PET to achieve a top quality package. “It makes it possible to achieve premium-quality containers in PET, with sharper edges which have a radius as little as only 1mm, compared to a previous minimum of 2.5mm,” explains Pierrick Protais, Packag- ing Innovation Leader at Sidel. These sharper edges actually increase design freedom and facilitate the production of more elegant containers with bases which are less curved. Also, they open up particular marketing opportunities for containers with complex shapes and large labelling surfaces. The technol- ogy also ensures maximum container quality by way of accurate processing, optionally reinforced by a monitoring system of visual control of base move- ment on individual blowing stations. More stable package for optimum uptime The sharper edges possible on the package are used to effectively flatten and increase the ‘standing ring’ area of the base. “In this way the pack- age is much more stable, preventing unwanted rocking and reducing the possibility of containers being knocked over,” adds Protais. “The application of SteadyEdge to any design can enhance the package’s stability by as much as 35%.” This is beneficial on the super- market shelf and also in the home, as well as improving reliability on the production line. As packages are far less likely to fall while they are being conveyed between various machines, this results in fewer costly stoppages and greatly improved uptime. Cost-efficient and sustainable production This innovative packaging solution optimises productivity and low total cost of ownership (TCO) while product quality and reliability are maintained to a high standard. Benefits include lightweight- ing possibilities of up to 10% through the improved material stretch on the base. A reduction in blowing pressure decreases energy consumption by up to 20% during production when limitation is linked to base design. The solution has been achieving higher output rates which are also up to 10% faster - from 1,800bph per mould for flat containers with a standard base to 2,000bph per mould with SteadyEdge. Such greatly improved line performance typically con- tributes to a return on investment (ROI) in less than a single year, says Sidel. Smarter blowing and quick changeover The specific sharp base design is achieved using the new Sidel pat- ented base mould system, Base Over- Stroke System (BOSS). BOSS is a piston activated in the blowing phase to stroke the base. This mechanical element allows for the raising and lowering of the base during the bottle- forming process independent of the opening and closing of the two half- shells of the mould. BOSS is intended to provide flex- ible and versatile production with the option to implement quick mould changeovers and ensure maximum production uptime. A BOSS-to-BOSS change-over can be performed in just 3min; BOSS-to-other can be per- formed in 11min. Easy to implement and to retrofit, Sidel’s new BOSS solution is fully compatible with Sidel Universal blowing machines. It is cur- rently in use by customers in different parts of the world, and will shortly also be available for Sidel Matrix blowing machines. www.sidel.com SteadyEdge base for flat, oval and rectangular PET containers Sharper edges, increased design freedom SteadyEdge is a patented base solution by Sidel which offers Food, Home and Personal Care (FHPC) producers enhanced brand differentiation options and production efficiency. bottle making Example of a container with less curved base. Raising and lowering of the base during the bottle-forming process independent of the opening and closing of the two half-shells of the mould.