PETpla.net Insider 11 / 2019

TRADE SHOW REVIEW PET planet Insider Vol. 20 No. 11/19 www.petpla.net 46 ECS SP: Valve-gated hot runners The moulds mounted on the ECS SP are configured with valve-gated hot runners as standard, for produc- tion of premium quality containers. This solution gives users the oppor- tunity to use, for any given number of cavities, the same hot runner system for different types of preforms, with only the cold half needing to be changed. This offers cost advantages, along with significantly reduced format changeover time. At K2019, the hot-fill option was fitted to an ECS SP80; the smaller ECS SP25 can also be equipped with it. The ECS SP systems are designed to offer compact dimensions, high energy-efficiency, best-in-class pro- ductivity through a combination of high cavitation and low cycle time, and pre- mium quality container production. ECS SP in action: Production of ketchup containers The ECS SP80 HF, with 80 t injection clamp force, can produce containers as small as 10ml. The unit demonstrated at the K show was engaged in production of 420ml oval- shaped ketchup bottles, 167.5mm tall and weighing 28 g. The neck diameter was 38mm with an SP400 neck finish. These containers are resistant both to a filling temperature of 85 °C (±2 °C) and to vacuum forces that arise during cool-down. Sipa says that the second feature solves the problem of the label crinkling: partial or complete peeling off of the label, caused by container deformation. The ECS SP80 HF on show had six cavi- ties and ran with a 14 second cycle time, producing 1,540 bph. Sipa says that the new hot-fill option for ECS SP machines is based on its expe- rience in production of hot-fillable containers with both single-stage and two-stage technologies and that its new machines overcome the disad- vantages of current low- to medium- output systems: the lower energy efficiency of two-stage technology; and the traditionally poor thermal resistance of hot-fill containers. The hot-fill option now provides ECS SP users with a lower-cost alternative to aseptic filling. Furthermore, if oxygen scavengers are used in PET contain- ers it is possible to achieve a shelf life for ketchup as long as 12 months, without the need to add preservatives to the product. For new machines and retrofits Hot-fill capability can be retrofit- ted to existing ECS SP machines as well as supplied on new ones. The retrofit kit includes dedicated stretch- ing rods, air valves, air vessel and piping that are required for the air recirculation in the container during the hot-fill process, an electrical heat- ing system for the blow moulds that ensures the cleanliness of the blowing area (no oil is used), and upgrade of the machine’s control software in order to include the management of this option. XForm Gen 4 XP preform injection moulding New technology incorporated into the XForm Gen4 XP 250 and 350 t Debut of two new products at K2019 Hot-fill option for single-stage ISBM Italian PET machinery specialists presented its new hot- fill option for ECS SP single-stage ISBM and unveiled the next-generation XForm 250 preform injection moulding platform. Sipa’s ECS SP machines’ hybrid drive technology uses servo-electric drives where precision and speed are required; hydraulics perform tasks where there is no particular need for high performance. This solution is designed to combine high performance and low energy consumption, and to offer a lower-cost alternative to aseptic filling. The new XForm Gen4 XP system incorporates the latest generation of preform injection moulding technology to deliver lowest conversion cost alongside market-leading speed, flexibility and ease of use.