PETpla.net Insider 05 / 2019

PET products 48 PET planet Insider Vol. 20 No. 05/19 www.petpla.net Software creates virtual bottle PET and rPET packaging producer Retal’s latest develop- ment supports its focus on creating lighter, stronger bottles that meet the precise performance and sustainability goals of brand owners. Retal worked together with Dassault Systemes to add several plug ins to its Abaqus software product that provided an exact 3D modelling. The bespoke simulation software now in operation at Retal’s R&D Centre means that it is able to create precise informa- tion regarding performance relating to the distribution of the thickness and stretch ratio of the bottles without needing to produce a physical product. Designer Andzejus Buinovskis explains, “With the 3D model of the preform and bottle, we can simulate different temperatures, movements, pressures and pre-blow and blow variations. It’s a powerful tool that saves the considerable time and money associated with prototyp- ing; in one case, two bottles of the same weight but different geometry showed that one had a better stretch ratio, making it stronger.” Physical tests can be conducted for the most optimal model, avoiding the cost of testing all intermediate versions. Investing in this complex software makes it faster, cheaper and easier for its global brand customers to choose the precise bottle for their food and beverage applications. www.retalgroup.com HyPET HPP5e – refinement on proven preform moulding system At the heart of the platform is an intelligent, adaptive tech- nology that uses feedback from pressure and actuator sensors to determine the optimum pressure required to effectively and efficiently mould every application. This smart system moni- tors and automatically adjusts for optimal energy consumption without impacting system capability, cycle time or part quality. A number of modifications have been made by Husky to make HyPET HPP5e more robust and reliable. New conveyor technology significantly reduces preform bounce when parts are ejected from the CoolPik unit to the exiting conveyor. This bounce reduction results in improved part quality, reduced scrap, more streamlined operation and decreased cycle interruptions. Enhanced mould alignment software supports faster system set-up and troubleshooting. Other advance- ments include new robot linear bearings to maximise longevity, upgraded Altanium 2/2 Inside ICC cards for more integrated, accurate temperature control and a new nozzle shut-off cyl- inder to promote component longevity. HyPET HPP5e has adopted new intelligent features and real-time control enhancements to simplify operation and optimise the moulding process. By integrating more intel- ligence into the system, operators of all skill levels are able to achieve maximum productivity and part consistency. HMI screen upgrades, software updates and improved EtherCAT diagnostics promote user friendliness, making the system easier to navigate, convenient to set-up and issues faster to troubleshoot. www.husky.co Sigma Air Manager 4.0 Kaeser Kompressoren is presenting the latest generation of SAM 4.0, the master control system for compressed air production and treatment components. It optimises pressure values, automatically adjusts compressor system air delivery to accommodate fluctuating pressure demand and optimises system efficiency based on control losses, switching losses and pressure flexibility. Moreover, the SAM 4.0 enables your compressed air station to take advantage of future ser- vices such as Sigma Smart Air, for pre- dictive maintenance. All of these features not only boost operational reliability and efficiency, but also significantly reduce energy costs. This is in no small part made possible by Kaeser’s adaptive 3-D advanced Con- trol, which takes into account additional factors, aside from switching losses (start/ stop), that affect compressed air system energy efficiency. These include control and idling losses, frequency converter operation and pressure flexibility (aver- age increase above required pressure). The patented optimisation method predic- tively calculates the optimum achievable configuration and adjusts the connected components accordingly – all based on the specific pressure required by the user. The SAM 4.0 supports operation in 30 languages, while the easy-to-use 12-inch colour touchscreen shows at a glance whether the station is operating in the ‘green zone’ from an energy man- agement perspective. Operating status, pressure history, free air delivery, power consumption, as well as maintenance and any error messages can be easily displayed and analysed – both in real-time and retroactively. Using a PC and network connection, this data can be accessed conveniently from anywhere, not just at the machine itself. This not only gives users peace of mind and lays the foun- dation for digital products in the pipeline, it also enables energy management in accordance with ISO 50001. www.kaeser.de