Thermforming equipment firms show new technology

The plastics world is gathering in Orlando at NPE 2018, and Gabler Thermoform GmbH & Co. (Booth W7763), will be there showing off its M100.

Dubbed a "new tilt-bed technology," the new M100 thermoforming machine has "an output increase of up to 50 percent compared to the machines presently available," the company maintains.

The Luebeck, Germany-based company will produce a transparent polypropylene drinking cup with a 69.5-millimeter diameter and a 96-millimeter height. And there will be plenty of product samples to go around during the week.

"The using 90-cavity tool demonstrates also the latest technologies. The completely re-engineered forming station with its state-of-the-art drive and guide technology provides a forming area of 1130 millimeters by 550 millimeters," the company reports.

The machine combines performance, technology and energy reduction to make end products more cost efficient, the company said.

Highlights of the machine include increases in forming size and clamping force, a user-friendly HMI touch screen, reverse stacker automation, speed flow forming air system, improved process automation functionality and what the company calls an "innovative" production monitoring function.

Gabler has been part of the Possehl Group since 2013.

Meanwhile, GN Thermoforming Equipment (Booth W1283) of Chester, Nova Scotia, will be making the trip south to Florida as well.

The maker of roll-fed thermoformers used to produce plastic packaging will be highlighting its GN800 Thermoformer.

"The GN800 offers many standard features to ensure manufacturers' needs are met in today's changing marketplace. These include such benefits as forming capability of 5-in above and below the sheet line, in-mold-cut capability, auto-grease, heavy-duty bearings in the toggle system, and high-efficiency Solar [products]," the company said ahead of the show.

GN Thermoforming also said it will be demonstrating a common-edge-cut tool developed for the GN800 Thermoformer in collaboration with Gravolab, a Romanian toolmaker.

GN Thermoforming will be producing a meat tray using a PET/polyethylene laminate with a 12-cavity mold. The production will maintain a reduced scrap rate of 18 percent, said Jerome Romkey, GN Thermoforming's business development manager, in a statement.

GN Thermoforming, along with its operations in Nova Scotia, also has a technical service and sales center in Jihlava, Czech Republic. The company said it has sold equipment into 70 countries over the past 35 years.