Stretch Blow Molding
On-Line PET Bottle Thickness Gauging Brings Responsive Process Control
Maintaining desired wall thickness in the neck, shoulder, wall, and base of a PET bottle is a continuing challenge to blow molders, says Chris Robinson, head of quality assurance at the Bowling Green, Ohio, plant of Southeastern Container (SEC) Group Inc.
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Blow Molding (K 2001 Preview)
One cluster of blow molding innovations on display at K 2001 will address the need for more versatile single-stage injection stretch-blow molding (ISBM) machines. A thirst for energy savings underlies plans to launch all-electric units for PET and HDPE containers. Also in the limelight are advances in large-part technical blow molding.
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See-Through Plastic Cans Enliven Paint Packaging
Improved technologies for molding see-through plastic paint cans—both clear stretch-blow molded PET and translucent injection molded PP—are adding dash to paint marketing in the U.K. These trends present a lively example to the U.S., where gray steel cans still dominate the shelves in retail paint packaging.
Read MoreMove Over BLOW MOLDING: Make Way for Thermoformed Gas Tanks
On the surface, the technology free-for-all feels like 1992 all over again. That was the first time makers of blow molded gas tanks faced California emissions standards that their technology couldn’t meet. The six-layer blow molded gas tank won that round, but today’s tanks won’t pass far tougher emissions standards coming in 2003 and 2004.
Read MoreBlow Molding
Examples of the growing trend toward all-electric blow molding machines for packaging will either be physically present or shown in videos and brochures at NPE. Superior accuracy, repeatability, speed, quietness, cleanliness, and energy efficiency are all claimed for the five new all-electric models being presented by four firms at the show.
Read MoreNPE Newsfinder: High Volume Thermoplastics
New octene and hexene LLDPEs, as well as HDPEs based on new metallocene and non-metallocene catalysts, will make their debut in Chicago next month. Among them will be the first metallocene HDPE film resin in North America.
Read MoreNew PET Reheat Machines Offer Higher Outputs, Faster Changeovers
What PET stretch-blow molding machine has the highest output per cavity today? Tetra Pak PET Packaging Systems North America, Schaumburg, Ill., claims that distinction for its new LX series reheat machines. These machines reportedly offer 20% higher throughput per cavity than the competition, as well as mold changeovers that are more than twice as fast. The firm also says the ratio of capital cost to output capacity is better for these machines than for competing units.
Read MoreProspects Brighten for PET Beer Bottles
Three hundred billion beer bottles a year worldwide is a mighty tempting target for the plastics industry. So it’s no surprise that 13 of 24 papers focused on beer packaging at the recent Nova-Pack Europe ’99 Conference, held in Germany by Schotland Business Research, Skillman, N.J.
Read MoreThe Next Revolution: All-Electric Blow Molding
The rapidly growing popularity of electric servo-motor drives in injection molding has cut their cost, creating the opportunity for even more rapid penetration in blow molding.
Read MorePlastic Beer Bottles Are No Longer Just a Dream
Commercial success of two major foreign beer brands packaged in plastic bottles looks like the first wave in what could soon be a flood of plastic container development here and abroad. As shown in the table, at least nine plastic beer-bottle programs are commercially under way or in development.
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