Blow molding.

Show-goers will see a range of new blow molding equipment that offers higher speeds, more cavitation, and faster changeovers. Extrusion blow introductions include new fast-cooling technology that slashes cycle time and "tandem" blowing that makes two bottles per parison. A new high-speed stretch-blow unit raises output of small PET bottles. And for industrial parts, a new eight-head "shot pot" machine more than doubles output of a dual-accumulator press.

Faster extrusion blow

Techne will unveil its FCS fast-cooling technology for continuous extrusion, which is claimed to cut cycle time 10% to 30%. Also new to the U.S. is Techne's Model 4000T660, an 18-cavity continuous-extrusion unit for single-serve bottles for drinkable yogurt.

Bekum America Corp. will highlight new tandem-blow continuous extrusion, a productivity-enhancing technique first introduced at the K 2004 show in Germany. The system blows two bottles tail-to-tail from a single parison, one blown from the top and one from the bottom.

For large-volume industrial applications, Graham Engineering will introduce a five-head "shot pot" machine (SPM series) that extrudes five monolayer parisons weighing 4.8 lb each. The machine is claimed to offer 2.5 times the output of a dual-accumulator machine at only 1.5 times the capital cost. Kautex Machines, FGH Systems (distributor for Uniloy B&W), Automa, and Jackson Machinery will also discuss recently upgraded continuous-extrusion machines

Wilmington Machinery will announce improvements to its Series IV wheel machine, while Urola USA will introduce the M6-SC six-station wheel, which reportedly has 25% faster cycles than previous models.

NPE will also afford a look at the newest all-electric extrusion blow models. Plastimac's new Plastblow PB2E/D is equipped with a double carriage, while Automa's first all-electric, called the Apex 300, has a bobbing extruder.

Meanwhile, Uniloy Milacron is launching a new three-layer reciprocating-screw machine--its first coextrusion model in this line. It is aimed at barrier bottles.

Boosting PET outputs

In PET stretchblow molding, Sidel's new 34-cavity rotary reheat system sets a new production level for that firm's machines at 61,200 bottles/hr, making it one of the fastest in the world.

SIPA North America will introduce its next generation of linear reheat stretch-blow machines, which offer higher speed, greater output, and lower energy use than previous models.

A new rotary reheat stretch-blow system from SIG Corpoplast boasts precise preferential heating for making PET oval bottles. Urola has expanded its line of all-electric reheat machines with a four-cavity model to supplement its two-cavity version. Italy's Siapi is unveiling a new reheat machine for wide-mouth containers up to 180 mm. W. Amsler Equipment Inc. will also show a recently upgraded reheat machine for short runs.

New one-step stretch-blow offerings include Nissei ASB's first all-electric machine, a small four-station unit with a footprint of only 3 x 8 ft. Automa will show two new one-step stretch-blow machines that provide greater output of small bottles and increased tonnage for wide-mouth containers.

Injection-blow with conditioning

A new entrant in injection-blow is Automa with its I&B hybrid series for small, narrow-neck PET bottles. Two three-station models will be unveiled, along with one unit with a unique fourth station. This "conditioning" station water-cools the cores down to about 135 C.

A unique injection-blow machine from Germany's Ossberger will be running at distributor FGH Systems' booth. The Pressblower DSE 250 has a 250-g shot size for molding large TPE automotive CVJ and rack-and-pinion boots and bellows.

Exhibitor Listings

Includes primary machinery, auxiliaries, components, and controls. New developments appear in boldface type.

ADS

Booth 8537

Showing G81 reheat stretch-blow unit for production of 5-gal water bottles. The one-cavity machine produces 450 to 500 bottles/hr. Also exhibiting 500-cc PP containers and 1-gal PET containers manufactured on 2- and 3-cavity reheat stretch-blow units.

AF COMPRESSORS

Booth 9433

Belgian-based firm supplies a range of high-pressure air compressors for PET stretch-blow machines.

AGR TOPWAVE LLC 

Booth 751

Launching MBT 7200 and 7400 portable thickness-measurement devices for molded containers that incorporate digital signal processing for high-precision lab or production use. All measuring signals are created and processed inside the sensor itself, minimizing errors from noise.

AKEI PLASTIC-MACHINE LTD.

Booth 1785

Hung Kong supplier of continuous-extrusion shuttle and accumulator-head machines.

ALL RIGHT ENTERPRISES INC.

Booth 7108

Canadian distributor of reheat stretch-blow-molding machines from Ningbo Aoli Machinery Co. in China (see below). Also supplies preform injection machines and molds.

ALPS (AIR LOGIC POWER SYSTEMS)

Booth 8508

Supplies in-line leak detector for container manufacturing.

ALTECH USA INC.

Booth 7235

Supplies Japanese blow molding equipment, including stretch-blow machines and bottle inspection systems.

AMERICAN JET STREAM INC.

Booth 1180

Distributes blow molding machines from Italian supplier Plastimac Spa.

AMERICAN PLASTICS TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Booth 9816

Supplies turnkey production systems including extrusion blow and reheat stretch-blow machines and blow-fill-seal systems.

W. AMSLER EQUIPMENT INC.

Booths 9249, 9252 (Exhibiting with Canadian Plastics Industry Association)

Introducing WAE LM12 single-cavity reheat stretch-blow machine for short runs. For custom blow molders, the machine is said to maximize productivity with a maximum cycle time of 2 sec. Also introducing WAE BIU bottle wall-thickness inspection system.

AOKI LABORATORY AMERICA INC.

Booth 9933

Showing three-station, single-stage injection stretch-blow machine. On display will be more than 5000 bottles produced with Aoki technology.

A.R. ENG. MACHINE & TOOL INC.

Booth 921

Canadian manufacturer of blow molding coextrusion heads.

AUTING SRL 

Booth 9060

Argentine supplier of automation equipment such as bottle feeders and unscramblers.

AUTOMA SPA

Booth 718

Introducing short- and long-stroke versions of Apex AT continuous-extrusion line; the company's first all-electric extrusion blow machine; and two one-step stretch-blow machines offering greater outputs of small PET bottles and increased clamp tonnage for wide-mouths. Also introducing its first injection-blow machines: I&B hybrid series for small, narrow-neck PET bottles for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals includes two three-station models and a four-station unit with a water-cooled conditioning station.

AVID

Booth 7122

Manufactures video inspection systems for on-line and off-line bottle measurement.

B&W BLOWMOLDING SYSTEMS

See FGH Systems.

BEKUM AMERICA CORP.

Booth 1649

Highlighting new BA-14 CoEx system, claimed to be the industry's largest six-layer coex machine designed for lab use, and the new tandem-blow process for simultaneous top and bottom blowing of two bottles per parison, tail-to-tail. Will demonstrate production of 8-oz HDPE school milk bottles

BELLISS & MORCOM/ GARDNER DENVER

Booth 8504

Supplies oil-free, reciprocating high-pressure air compressors for PET stretch-blow molding.

BLOWMOULDING TECHNOLOGIES SRL

Booth 9249 (Exhibiting with W. Amsler Equipment Inc.)

Italian manufacturer of continuous-extrusion machines--hydraulic, electric, and hybrid--as well as aseptic blow-fill-seal systems.

CANADIAN FEED SCREWS MFG. LTD.

Booth 4446

Supplies screws and barrels for blow molding.

CANTERBURY ENGINEERING CO.

Booth 5984

Showing screws for blow molding.

CENTRAL MACHINERY & PLASTIC PRODUCTS

Booth 5093

North American distributor of blow molding equipment from India's Central Machine Products. Will discuss new bottle conveying systems and new accumulator-head machine with internal thread capabilities.

CHUMPOWER MACHINERY CORP.

Booth 463 (Exhibiting with Taiwan External Trade Development Council)

Supplies reheat stretch-blow machines, rotary stretch-blow systems, and complete turnkey production lines.

CONFORMA CLAD INC.

Booth 4367

Uses infiltration-brazed tungsten carbide cladding to extend screw/barrel life.

DAVIS-STANDARD LLC

Booth 5107

Showing an accumulator-head blow molder with new 3DX deformable die-ring technology from BMC Controls Ltd. in the U.K. This is the first use of the die ring system in the U.S.

DEKUMA GMBH

Booth 9940

Recently introduced model DKM-B10D double-station extrusion-blow machine.

DIMA INC.

Booth 9201

Supplies Korean injection-blow machines.

EISBAER TROCKENTECHNIK GMBH

Booth 9946 (Exhibiting with Austrian Trade Commission)

Supplies air-cooling systems for internal cooling of blow molded articles.

EPCO LLC

Booth 1409

Rebuilds blow molding equipment.

FANUC ROBOTICS AMERICA INC.

Booth 9620

Will host three automation integrators--Robotic Production Technology, Schneider Packaging, and JR Automation, demonstrating trimming/routing, bottle packing, and heat-staking.

FASTI USA, INC.

Booth 5587

Showing its internal air-cooling systems for blow molding, which circulate chilled air inside the part immediately after blowing.

FGH SYSTEMS INC.

Booth 1309

Distributes German-built Uniloy B&W shuttle-style packaging machines. Introducing 30-ton UMS24D with tiebarless accessibility, in-machine trimming and labeling, and closed-loop position and speed control. Handles up to 12 cavities and containers up to 2.5 gal. Also showing new Pressblower DSE 250 injection-blow machine from Germany's Ossberger for large TPE automotive CVJ boots.

FONG KEE IRON WORKS CO. LTD.

Booths 458, 557 (Exhibiting with Taiwan External Trade Development Council)

Supplies continuous-extrusion and accumulator-head blow molding machines.

GLYCON CORP.

Booth 5915

Recently introduced SmartBarrel mechanical wear-measurement system for screws and barrels does not require screw removal.

GOTO PLASTIC CO. LTD.

Booth 4499

Japanese supplier of reciprocating-screw blow molding equipment for medium-size automotive parts.

GRAHAM ENGINEERING CORP.

Booth 2938

Introducing five-head "shot pot" machine that extrudes five mono-layer parisons weighing 4.8 lb each. Also launching eight-head shot-pot machine with an integrated screen changer for HDPE and PP dairy containers up to 1 gal and industrial containers up to 2 gal.

HAIDE PLASTIC MACHINERY CO., LTD.

Booth 7139

Chinese builder of extrusion equipment supplies SCJZ machine for extrusion blow molding large parts.

HALLINK RSB INC.

Booth 9633

Supplies tooling, change parts, and complete machine packages for PET stretch-blow molding.

HEINS PCM MACHINERY LTD.

Booths 9249, 9252

Canadian firm offers single- and double-station continuous-extrusion machines, leak detectors, and spin trimmers.

HESTA GRAHAM

See Graham Engineering Corp.

HOERBIGER SERVICE NORTH AMERICA

Booth 7111

Introducing ValCOM capacity-control system for air compressors. "Intelligent loading" schemes are said to save energy and ensure longer wear.

HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.

Booths 2132, 2140

Supplies IndexSB one-stage injection stretch-blow machine for mid-volume and wide-mouth applications.

IMG PLASTEC CO., LTD.

Booth 8228

German/Polish firm supplies Korean-built continuous-extrusion machines for bottles and jerry cans (coextrusion available), accumulator-head machines for tanks and drums, and reciprocating-screw extrusion machines for 5-gal PC water bottles.

INGERSOLL RAND CO.

Booth 10759

Supplies compressors, controls, dryers, and filters for PET bottle manufacturing.

JACKSON MACHINERY INC.

Booth 5066

Unveiling Versamatic 415 continuous-extrusion unit for long runs of a single product. Single-sided machine has small footprint and is economical for containers up to 1 qt.

JBJ PRODUCTS & MACHINERY

Booth 1323 (Exhibiting with MC Molds)

Supplies stand-up impact trimmers for downstream deflashing.

J.M. MACHINERY CO. LTD.

Booth 9846

Canadian sales agent for China's GuangDong Jin Ming Plastics Machinery Co. Ltd. will discuss extrusion blow machinery for monolayer and coextrusion applications.

JOMAR CORP.

Booth 4761

Manufactures injection-blow machines for containers up to 2 liters, extrusion blow machines for containers from 100 cc to 25L, and injection stretch-blow systems.

KASS AUTOMATION SYSTEMS INC.

Booth 328

Supplies downstream automation equipment, including spin trimmers, rotary trimmers, deflashers, and take-away systems.

KAUTEX MACHINES INC.

Booth 1825

Returning to the consumer packaging sector with the U.S. introduction of Chinese-built KKC shuttle line. Demonstrating a KCC 20D with a dual-parison head producing gallon round handle-ware at about 1000/hr.

KORTEC INC.

Booth 9537

Discussing new polyester-based barrier and scavenger technology for use with its high-output multilayer coinjection systems.

KRONES INC.

Booth 1795

Supplies Contiform series of rotary stretch blow machines for standard or heat-set PET bottles. Can produce up to 1600 bottles/hr per blowing station.

LESHAN MACHINERY CO. LTD.

Booth 7340

Chinese supplier of digitally controlled continuous-extrusion shuttle blow molders.

LUXBER S.L.

Booths 9640, 9646 (Exhibiting with Trade Commission of Spain)

Supplies injection-blow and extrusion blow machinery.

MAG-PLASTIC MACHINERY INC.

Booth 9229

Swiss firm will operate SSB 02 linear reheat stretch-blow machine with new neck orientation and preferential heating features. Neck orientation to accommodate flip-top caps now works with standard preforms and requires less than 0.8 sec. New retrofittable preferential heating is said to permit weight savings on complex bottle shapes.

MC MOLDS INC.

Booth 1323

Introducing 3D model-making machine for blow molded bottles and a dual-cut DST 2000 spin trimmer for Bekum's tandem-blow extrusion machine.

MID-AMERICA MACHINING INC.

Booth 9458

Showcasing "total tooling package" of molds, trim tooling, extrusion lead tooling, blow pins, and other products.

MINATECH INC.

Booth 11423

Manufactures automation equipment, including robotic cells and assembly lines, take-out systems, deflashing units, flame treaters, and assembly lines, leak testers, and vision and quality centers.

MOOG

Booth 2149

Supplies controllers for blow molding, including Total Machine Controller Generation 4; 4-channel, 400-point modular parison controller; and BM 400 modular machine controller.

MTM SYSTEMS

Booth 1345

Introducing rotary trimming technology for deflashing and dome removal on different types of bottles.

W. MULLER USA INC.

Booth 10505

Designs and manufactures extrusion heads for blow molding. Systems can produce containers up to about 2.5 liters with up to seven layers.

NINGBO AOLI MACHINERY CO. LTD.

Booth 7108

Chinese company supplies reheat stretch-blow machinery with up to two cavities and production capacity up to 2000 bottles/hr.

NINGBO HUARE MACHINERY MFG. CO. LTD. Booth 10320

Chinese supplier of PET/PP reheat stretch-blow machines with two or four cavities.

NISSEI ASB CO.

Booth 5901

Introducing ASB-15N/10E, said to be the first all-electric one-step stretch-blow machine. A prototype will be shown. Also introducing to North America a Chinese-built reheat stretch-blow system.

OSSBERGER

See FGH Systems.

PAVAN ZANEITI IND. METALURGICA LTDA.

Booth 7518

Brazilian supplier of extrusion blow molders will demonstrate Bimatic 3.6D double-station continuous-extrusion shuttle machine with five cavities for products from 10 cc to 3.6 liters.

PET ALL MANUFACTURING INC.

Booth 4599

Canadian company offers complete turnkey systems for continuous-extrusion, accumulator-head, reheat stretch-blow, and injection-blow molding.

PET PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL CO. LTD.

Booth 11428

Taiwanese firm supplies stretch-blow machines and related auxiliaries.

PLASTIC WORLD INC.

Booth 483

Introducing Smart Control and Max-E-Save process-control technologies to reduce energy consumption and boost productivity of injection-blow machines.

PLASTIMAC

Booth 1180 (Exhibiting with American Jet Stream)

Launching Plastiblow PB2E/D dual-sided all-electric extrusion blow molder.

PROCO MACHINERY INC.

Booth 785

Showing new Proco Robopik "UL-series" takeout system for reciprocating-screw machines, Proco PET takeout system for single- or double-row blow molders, and Proco robotic transfer arm for industrial blow molders.

QINCHUAN-FUTURE MATERIALS EQUIPMENT CO. LTD.

Booth 7442

Chinese supplier claims to have more than 80% share of China's large blow molding machine market and to be the only Chinese company that can make 6-layer systems for fuel tanks. Its accumulator-head systems produce industrial containers up to 1000 liters multilayer containers to 500L, and industrial parts such as pallets and tabletops.

R&D TOOL AND ENGINEERING

Booth 10725

Introducing Quick Change Lower Blow system to reduce time and complexity of tool changes for single-stage injection stretch-blow machine. Also new is Genesis hot-runner system for injection-blow molding.

RAO DESIGN INTERNATIONAL INC.

Booth 9816

Supplies molds and tooling for stretch-blow machines.

ROCHELEAU TOOL & DIE CO. INC.

Booth 4771

Introducing larger and higher-output reciprocating-screw blow molder for lightweight wide-mouth containers. Model RS70 has 10 cavities.

SERVICIO INDUSTRIAL DE ELECTRONICA (SIDE) SA

Booths 9640, 9646 (Exhibiting with Trade Commission of Spain)

Supplies reheat stretch-blow machines will discuss its TMS series and new EasyBlow systems.

SHAN XI QINCHUAN MACHINERY DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD.

Booth 7442

See Qinchuan-Future Materials Equipment Co. Ltd.

SIAPI

Booth 5787

Italian maker of reheat stretch-blow machines will introduce linear machines that run up to 14 cavities and produce up to 20,000 bottles/hr. New oven technology significantly reduces energy consumption. Also unveiling reheat machine for wide-mouth containers up to 180 mm.

SIDEL

Booth 1740

Launching its highest output system yet, the 34-cavity SBO 34 rotary reheat stretch-blow system for bottles up to 24 oz at up to 61,200/hr.

SIG ASBOFILL GMBH

Booth 5121 (Exhibiting with SIG Corpoplast)

Supplies aseptic filling machines for PET and HDPE bottles.

SIG CORPOPLAST

Booth 5121

Introducing rotary reheat stretch-blow system for PET oval bottles.

SIG PLASMAX GMBH

Booth 5121 (Exhibiting with SIG Corpoplast)

Introducing to the U.S. the Plasmax 12D barrier-coating machine with output of 10,000 bottles/hr.

SIPA

Booth 570

Launching in U.S. SFL 4 and SFL 6 linear stretch-blow machines, said to offer higher speed, greater output, and lower energy use than previous models.

TECHNE NORTH AMERICA

Booth 1750

Introducing to the U.S. FCS fast-cooling technology on continuous-extrusion machines. Also introducing Model 4000T660 18-cavity continuous-extrusion unit for single-serve bottles of drinkable yogurt.

TECNICA INTERNATIONAL CORP.

Booth 278 (Exhibiting with Taiwan External Trade Development Council)

Manufactures injection-blow, extrusion blow and stretch-blow equipment and auxiliaries.

UNILOY MILACRON

Booths 1702, 1715

Introducing UMR 2000-3L three-layer reciprocating-screw machine--the company's first. It is aimed at extended-shelf-life applications, particularly dairy products. Also introducing Uniloy B&W UMS24D shuttle machine at FGH Systems' booth (see above).

UROLA SC

Booths 9640, 9646 (Exhibiting with Trade Commission of Spain)

Introducing M6-SC six-station wheel, which reportedly has 25% faster cycles than previous models. Also expanding its line of all-electric reheat stretch-blow machines with a four-cavity model to supplement its two-cavity version.

WILMINGTON MACHINERY

Booth 1118

Announcing improvements to Series IV wheel machines, including single-point water connections, simplified on-board pneumatic controls, motorized mold-open/close feature for easy changeovers, and motorized traverse for maintenance.

ZHANGJIAGANG HUAFENG HEAVY-DUTY EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CO.

Booth 7227

Chinese firm builds shuttle-type continuous-extrusion machines and medium and large accumulator-head types, producing containers and industrial parts from 10 cc to 5000 liters. Recently introduced FT Fortune Series shuttle machines produce containers up to 30L with one to 10 heads. New FT Fortune large accumulator models make drums and industrial parts from 50L to 220L.