Blow Molding: Interchangeable Mold Inserts For Flexible PET Bottle Molding
Change PET bottle size and shape easily with bottle mold inserts from PET engineering.
A single PET bottle mold can have a wide range of customization capabilities with a new interchangeable insert system from in Italy, a new member of the Sidel Group. PET engineering’s ITM (Insert Technology Molds) approach allows for interchanging the shoulder, lower body, middle body or combinations of these. Besides changing the aesthetic design and label area, it is possible to alter the volume capacity of the bottle by 5% to 10% with the inserts. PET engineering says the latter feature could prove important for future possible downsizing to 1.3-liter and 1.25 L formats.
The first commercial user of the system is Heineken Russia, which purchased 115 mold sets—each set including one mold plus two inserts—for seven Russian plants. The molds were equipped to interchange inserts for the shoulder and lower body, but in this first application, only the lower-body insert was changed to produce two bottle designs for three different brands (photo). These molds were equipped with lube-free, lightweight composite components and a ceramic coating for increased wear and corrosion resistance, low friction coefficient, and antibacterial and self-cleaning action.
PET engineering says two other ITM projects are in the works.
Related Content
-
For Extrusion and Injection-Blow Molders, Numerous Upgrades in Machines and Services
Uniloy is revising its machinery lines across the board and strengthening after-sales services in tooling maintenance, spare parts and tech service.
-
Breaking the Barrier: An Emerging Force in 9-Layer Film Packaging
Hamilton Plastics taps into its 30-plus years of know-how in high-barrier films by bringing novel, custom-engineered, nine-layer structures resulting from the investment in two new lines.
-
Foam-Core Multilayer Blow Molding: How It’s Done
Learn here how to take advantage of new lightweighting and recycle utilization opportunities in consumer packaging, thanks to a collaboration of leaders in microcellular foaming and multilayer head design.