DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY (Dec. 11, 5 p.m. EST) — Turning out more — and higher-quality — PET preforms was a K 2001 theme for Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
Husky and a partner, Cleveland-based Pressco Technology Inc., have developed an integrated vision-inspection system that inspects every molded preform.
Husky is running a prototype at its Advanced Manufacturing Center in Bolton, Ontario. A Husky Index 250 injection press, fitted with a 48-cavity preform mold, is linked directly to Pressco's Intellispec-PSW3 inspection system. Husky designed special product-handling equipment linking the two machines.
The press supplier is inviting selected PET preform producers to participate in Beta testing.
The Intellispec allows molders to reduce scrap, downtime and product-handling expenses. Husky said the equipment can pay for itself in less than 18 months.
For higher output, Husky introduced new preform molds with 144 cavities and 72 cavities. The 144-cavity mold can fit into an injection press with 600 tons of clamping force — boosting production by 50 percent over a 96-cavity mold. The 72-cavity mold fits into Husky 300-ton presses.
Both molds use Husky's Micropitch stack design, said Reinhart Dravetz, product manager in Husky's Index systems group.
“This stack accommodates preforms with thread finishes up to 30 millimeters in diameter,” he said.
Husky also introduced a 125-ton size to its Index line of preform presses. The 125-tonner is part of Husky's new IndexSB one-step blow molding system, but the injection press can be purchased as a stand-alone preform machine. It can hold molds with 16, 24, and 32 cavities, and can produce 18,300 preforms an hour.
Husky also introduced a new size for its Hylectric line, with a 330-ton version of the hybrid injection molding press. The machine is suited for several applications, including medical, cell phones, pails, closures and thin-wall packaging.
The Hylectric series comes with 100-1,000 tons of clamping force.
In hot-runner developments, Husky rolled out the Ultra 500, 750 and 1,000 nozzles at K. Ultra nozzles share a common design for tip mounting, heater and thermocouple installation, and for valve-stem actuation. Valve-gated systems use the UltraGuide valve-stem design for gate quality and longevity of the components.
The nozzles use a steel tip retainer to guarantee a reliable seal between the nozzle and the gate insert.
All three sizes also use the UltraSeal technology, which uses a spring to preload the nozzle against the manifold. Husky offers a three-year leakproof guarantee, plus a three-year warranty on all components.
Husky also wants to help clean molds, using dry ice. The Power DFX generates fine particles of dry ice that blast through tiny nozzles in a stream of compressed air. When the ice hits the mold surface, the particles vaporize into carbon dioxide gas, causing microscopic explosions that knock molding residues from the mold.