PETpla.net Insider 09 / 2020

MOULD MAKING PETplanet Insider Vol. 21 No. 09/20 www.petpla.net 23 Comprehensive solution for integrated cap preform design to compact, versatile bottle stretch-blowing systems Complete mould solutions for closures-beverage lines Sacmi’s comprehensive range of moulds for the closures beverage industry includes a fully integrated turnkey response for every stage of the process. Moulds play a pivotal role in ensur- ing fi nished products meet desired speci fi cations and quality. With the development, from the mid-1990s onwards, of a new generation of cap presses based on compression technology, Sacmi has broadened its range of tools for achieving optimised process quality and repeatability and fi nally for vital improvements in the quest for new solutions in terms of materials and design. Sacmi is an all-round manufacturer of machines and moulds for capsules and performs. Since 2010 there has been a continuous range-expanding investment in this area. That is why the company recently launched the new GME 30.37 standard, developed for 26mm neck fi nishes, which allows weight reduction compared to previ- ous standards. This project goes hand in hand with the development of a dedicated cap, relying on the com- pany’s capacity (through its Closures & Containers & PET Divisions and the Beverage Division) to break through technological barriers by drawing on its knowledge of moulds, their opera- tion and their characteristics. Sacmi’s design consultancy work results in the production of at least 8-9,000 stacks (cavity + punch) a year for compres- sion moulds for caps. Customers can pre-test the com- plete bottle-cap solution inside the lab. More speci fi cally, integrating cap- mould design with machine develop- ment has proved to be a good strat- egy for the Italian company. It ensures that moulds have the longest possible working life thanks to the carefully selected materials and linings and the mechanical precision of the various components. Lightweighting, tethered caps and productive, fl exible PET preform manufacturing solutions constitute just one aspect of even more challenging industry developments aimed at ever- wider use of recycled resins. In this fi eld, Sacmi’s solution features three key strengths: fi rstly, the advantages of compression - lower operating tem- perature, no gate, precision control of each cavity-mould – the technology provides greater versatility when han- dling resins of different viscosities. The company has invested to allow, via injection preform moulding, (IPS) technology, the production of preforms made of 100% rPET. Maxi- mum versatility in terms of material and size management extends, down- stream from the process, to the latest generation of stretch-blow moulders, characterised by compactness, quality and ef fi ciency. Secondly, the company has devel- oped its stretch-blow moulders around the mould to deliver the market clear-cut innovation, for optimising line performance and productivity according to the size required. With the SmartBlo stretch-blower – featur- ing brushless motors and consuming less energy than the previous solu- tion – Sacmi can mount single or dual cavity moulds to double productivity for small-medium sizes. With regard to its container and single-dose capsule manufacturing platforms, Sacmi aims to extend the advantages of technological know- how to different fi elds and indus- tries. With compression blow forming (CBF), the company has developed a solution for the dairy and pharma sec- tors by merging aspects of alternative technologies to more versatility, pro- cess quality and lower running costs. Lastly, continuous compression moulding multilayer (CCMM), the latest generation of Sacmi compres- sion presses for the manufacturer of single serve capsules (coffee, tea, etc.), is a well-known product because of versatile resin and layer manage- ment. Once again, the mould factor is crucial. Several units are already in production at customers‘ plants. The company says that compared to tradi- tional solutions it provides greater raw material management versatility, lower consumption and higher productivity while offering good quality. www.sacmi.com MOULD MAKING Sacmi mould for the production of PET performs Sacmi mould for the production of plastic closures