The biggest blow molder running at October’s K 2019 show in Dusseldorf was said to be the ECT 880 CoEx3 from ST BlowMoulding of Italy. This three-layer continuous-extrusion machine was designed to produce 220-liter L-ring drums and open-head drums at up 50 drums/hr. Compared with accumulator-head machines, this unit reportedly provides a 10% faster cycle, improved wall-thickness control and major energy savings. The machine is equipped with high-efficiency HEX extruders, a ReCo3 extrusion head from W. Müller, and the PWDS/SFDR radial-control unit from Feuertherm. The machine also incorporates safety devices for head tooling changeovers: an electric hoist to raise the core and die; an adjustable swivel arm to align them to the extrusion head; and a movable catwalk extending from the machine mezzanine to permit work under the extrusion head.As reported in our September show preview, another new machine from ST BlowMoulding will be displayed offsite: an ASPI 200 suction blow molder. It incorporates such recent developments as a brand-new control interface said to be “as user-friendly as a smartphone”; the W-Print system to mark data directly on the parison; and parison swell monitoring for process control.