BOTTLING / FILLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 23 No. 11/22 www.petpla.net 20 thus causes less damage to them. A dedusting and an inspection module have also been installed. While the first blows out the preforms, the second identifies any foreign particles or deformation and ejects all affected PET preforms, thus preventing production downtimes. A cap inspection unit at the filler that checks for shape and colour fulfils the same purpose. The tried-and-tested linear aseptic filler itself fills up to 12,000 bph in PET, holding between 250ml and 1 l or 9,000 bph containing 1,5 l. Its many striking features include a number of technical innovations such as for instance, further-developed bottle grippers that hold the bottles in place better than the previous model. Innovative switching valves control the volume of the inflow to the actual filling valve and thus permit a total of four different infeed speeds adapted to the beverages’ respective foaming properties. The filling valves and valve outlets were specially optimised to cater for Ramseier Suisse AG products. “There’s absolutely nothing normal about this line,” emphasises Lutz Müller. Smart technology The system control unit based on TIA Siemens technology is one of the novelties on this line, making use of modular software for the very first time. It enables any adjustments to be made to the affected module only without the entire system having to be handled. The machinery is operated from the new ClearLine HMI (human machine interface) operator panel. One practical feature for the operator is that the panels installed at filler height at ground level can also be used to control the process engineering up on the platform. This means that personnel do not have to waste time climbing stairs or walking round the machine, as screens are positioned on both sides of the stretch blow moulder/filler block. Every effort has been made along the entire line to speed up, shorten PET bottles filled with tea are dressed with sleeve labels on the KHS labeller. Fruit juice and tea beverages in premium Swiss quality: excerpt from the company’s portfolio. Christoph Suter, CTO and member of the board of Ramseier Suisse AG. Bottle grippers are provided on a trolley for format changeovers. or simplify processes in order to save time and make the plant engineering as efficient as possible. Further examples are the quick and flexible format changeovers and shorter cleaning and sterilisation times, reduced from a previous 5 h to a current 3.5 h. In addition, the new filler is now sterilised with hydrogen peroxide instead of peracetic acid which was formerly used in wet aseptics. Suter therefore expects to make savings in maintenance, operating materials, steam consumption and in water and wastewater. “The new line is also more efficient regarding fixed product loss caused by the system,” states the CTO. www.khs.com
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