PETpla.net Insider 09 / 2021

MOULD MAKING PETplanet Insider Vol. 22 No. 09/21 www.petpla.net 20 Almost 50 years of PET stretch blow mould production If there were a synonym for PET stretch blow moulds it could be Röders. Röders, together with Corpoplast, from its very beginning made PET stretch blow moulding suitable for large- scale production almost 50 years ago. Later Röders supported well-established machine producers like Krones and Sipa with their development of modern mould concepts for their blowing machines. The PET stretch blow moulding technology is still one of the most impor- tant packaging technologies for liquids today. Jürgen Röders, managing director of Röders, has a long-held passion for PET stretch blow moulding - so we visited him at Soltau. Röders is a sixth-generation family-run business with a history of more than 200 years. Apart from technology, there is only one matter of concern for Jürgen Röders and that is reliability. This means meeting short delivery times as well as ensur- ing that he provides solutions that are tailor-made to his customers’ require- ments. Röders, together with Corpoplast, was the first to venture into the PET stretch blow moulding technology for packaging soft drinks in 1975 in a move away from PVC to PET. For years, Röders had designed and pro- duced PET blow moulds exclusively for machines from Corpoplast. Later, in the 1990s, Röders started offering PET blow moulds also for machines made by Sidel and others. Röders has not only left its mark on the history of PET stretch blow moulding. Today, too, significant industry innova- tions are coming out of Soltau, including its rapid mould change system and the development of coatings for stainless steel moulds to reduce cleaning efforts at the customers as well as protection against scratches and damages. For all innova- tions, it often comes down to fine details which will be decisive for whether or not a mould will fit and function. “Even within machine genera- tions, the mount- ing arrangement for the PET stretch blow moulds can be different. Here, we have to take particular account of the machine’s varying and therewith special features”, says Jani Rickert, Head of PET Blow Mould Sales. Innovations in production are very important for reducing delivery times and improving cost efficiency. More than 30 years ago, Jürgen Röders already felt challenged by the fact that aluminium is relatively easy and fast to machine, but only slow machines were available to produce moulds made of aluminium. Finally, he started the development of High Speed Cutting machines (HSC machines) and Röders became a pioneer in this evolving technology. Today, the production of its high precision, high speed milling and grinding machines account for more than 80% of Röders’ turnover. Jürgen Röders is the sixth generation in his family running Röders as managing director. When he started at Röders, the major business had been pewter and at a lower scale PET stretch blow moulds. Under his responsibility, the new business field of High Speed Cutting machines was developed, which today accounts for over 80% of the turnover and increased the competitiveness of the PET blow mould production. +44 (0) 1254 584210 sales@petmachinery.com petmachinery.com Active for over 25 years, our global network and specialist knowledge makes us the go-to company for the sale or purchase of a PET machine. Commercially savvy, we work closely with our customers and our global network, to make sure everyone gets the best deal. Providing comprehensive advice throughout your sale or purchase; we can arrange dismantling, loading, packing, shipping, specialist insurance and commissioning. If you have amachine to sell or you’re looking to purchase, please get in touch. THE INDUSTRY EXPERTS