Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Sustainable Plastics
  • Rubber News
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Processor News
    • Suppliers
    • More News
    • Digital Edition
    • End Markets
    • Special Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Videos
    • Injection Molding
    • Blow Molding
    • Film & Sheet
    • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
    • Rotomolding
    • Thermoforming
    • Recycling
    • Machinery
    • Materials
    • Molds/Tooling
    • Product news
    • Design
    • K Show
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Sustainability
    • Public Policy
    • Material Insights Videos
    • Numbers that Matter
    • Automotive
    • Packaging
    • Medical
    • Consumer Products
    • Construction
    • Processor of the Year
    • Best Places to Work
      • 2023 winners
    • Women Breaking the Mold
    • Rising Stars
    • Diversity
    • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
  • Opinion
    • The Plastics Blog
    • Kickstart
    • One Good Resin
    • Pellets and Politics
    • All Things Data
    • Viewpoint
    • From Pillar to Post
    • Perspective
    • Mailbag
    • Fake Plastic Trees
  • Shop Floor
    • Blending
    • Compounding
    • Drying
    • Injection Molding
    • Purging
    • Robotics
    • Size Reduction
    • Structural Foam
    • Tooling
    • Training
  • Events
    • K Show Livestream
    • Plastics News Events
    • Industry Events
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Livestreams/Webinars
    • Editorial Livestreams
    • Ask the Expert
    • Plastics News Events Library
    • Processor of the Year submissions
    • Plastics News Executive Forum
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Plastics News Caps & Closures
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
    • Plastics in Automotive
    • Bioplastics Live
    • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Polymer Points Live
    • Numbers that Matter Live
    • Plastics in Politics Live
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
    • Plastics in Healthcare Library
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
  • Rankings & Data
    • Injection Molders
    • Blow Molders
    • Film Sheet
    • Thermoformers
    • Pipe Profile Tubing
    • Rotomolders
    • Mold/Toolmakers
    • LSR Processors
    • Recyclers
    • Compounders - List
    • Association - List
    • Plastic Lumber - List
    • All
  • Directory
  • Resin Prices
    • Resin Prices Overview
    • Commodity Thermoplastics
    • High Temperature Thermoplastics
    • Engineering Thermoplastics
    • Recycled Plastics
    • Thermosets
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
    • Conair Sponsored Content
    • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
    • ENGEL Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • Sign up for Early Classified
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
April 10, 2018 02:00 AM

Blow molding machine makers strive for quality, speed

Catherine Kavanaugh
Senior Reporter
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print
    Graham Engineering Corp.
    Graham will have six processing systems on display, including its Mini Hercules accumulator head blow molder.

    The quest to produce quality bottles with greater precision and speed is being met with investment and innovation by blow molding machine manufacturers.

    New products and next-generation models on exhibit at NPE2018 will show advances in repeatability and flexibility for primary equipment buyers in the automotive, beverage, cosmetic, health care and other markets.

    For custom blow molders, W. Amsler Equipment Inc. has amped up the second version of its four-cavity stretch blow molding machine and will display it at Booth S21067. The L42X has gone from 3 to 12 Bosch-Rexroth servo motors and now has four parallel heating ovens — one for each cavity — to allow for more precise adjustments compared to a single continuous oven.

    "We've been talking about this machine for a couple years. Nothing else like this is manufactured in North America," Amsler Sales and Marketing Manager Heidi Amsler said in a phone interview.

    She pointed to the new oven system, saying, "There's a lot more control over the process. When you're running four bottles, you don't want a variance from the first cavity to the second or last."

    The extra servos improve repeatability and reduce energy use yet have fewer cables, according to the company. But Amsler expects another feature to impress businesses that run smaller loads with fast changeovers, maybe making trigger spray bottles one day and bear-shaped honey bottles the next. She said the L42X shines in operations that run a wide variety of containers.

    "The range of bottles that can be made sets us apart," Amsler said. "We can run bottles from 50 milliliters up to 5 liters with neck sizes from 18 mm to 70 mm."

    In addition, the machine is equipped with a larger touchscreen control for the operator and a Windows-based human machine interface with access to assembly drawings, bills of materials, set-up guides, trouble-shooting tips and training videos.

    Founded in 1994, Amsler, a privately held Richmond Hill, Ontario-based company, is the only North American manufacturer of all-electric linear PET stretch blow molders. General Manager Bruce Coxhead will give a presentation on linear blow molding of non-conventional barrier containers at 10:45 a.m. May 9 at NPE's Bottle Zone.

    Bekum America Corp. (Booth W2127) says it will introduce the U.S.-made 407DL machine in response to the growing need for a high-speed bottle maker. The machine offers the benefits of a double-shuttle long stroke machine platen as well as cost-efficient production of smaller bottles, especially for personal care products, according to the company.

    Molds can be changed in 15 minutes without the use of tools, Bekum says, and the machine provides "a very attractive" cost-output ratio. Bekum will demonstrate features of the electric version by producing 1-liter round, 3-layer personal care bottles made from HDPE.

    The 407DL machines also come in hydraulic and hybrid versions and include Bekum's patented C-Frame clamp design.

    W. Amsler Equipment Inc.

    W. Amsler Equipment Inc. will display its four-cavity stretch blow molding machine with a larger touch screen control.

    Kautex Machines Inc. (Booth W1543) will show how it expanded the range of its small-size KBB all-electric machines. The company added capacity for the machine line as well as its KSB suction blow molding machines to meet growing demand.

    In December, Kautex opened a new assembly hall at its manufacturing facility in Bonn, Germany, where it increased capacity for more than 60 machines a year.

    Kautex also will demonstrate a virtual training machine for its KCC range of hydraulically driven machines at NPE.

    Pet All Manufacturing Inc. (Booth W6545) will put three new all-electric technologies on display. The Markham, Ontario-based company will exhibit a blow molding machine (IBM 300/700) suited for clean rooms, an injection stretch blow molding machine (ISBM-180E), and a PET stretch blow molding machine (CPSB-1000 LLE) for 15 liter containers.

    Show manager Zoe Webster says the machines provide energy savings and have faster cycle times than their hydraulic counterparts.

    Barcelona, Spain-based Side SA (Booth S16084), which manufactures PET blow molding machines, will focus on an engineering solution for containers that need a handle molded from a preform.

    "The T-handle system is the simplest system that can be found for producing containers with handles," Side Sales Director Josep Jimenez said.

    Graham Engineering Corp. (Booth 2743), which is based in York, Pa., has expanded its proprietary control system called Navigator to all company's brands, which includes Welex and American Kuhne from earlier acquisitions.

    The control technology uses an industrial PC with a Windows platform to improve extrusion process control. Navigator's hardware is designed to withstand environments considered harsh because of vibrations, temperature and humidity.

    "The ease and ability to integrate is boundless," Justin Kilgore, Graham's vice president of engineering, said in a news release, noting synchronized supervisory control of a line is possible as well connectivity for data collection systems and remote support and trouble-shooting.

    "Navigator offers integration without limits," Kilgore added.

    Graham also will have six processing systems on display, including its Mini Hercules accumulator head blow molder, a modular clamp station for its Revolution MVP rotary wheel blow molder; the Welex Evolution sheet extrusion system; American Kuhne's Ultra extruders with expanded features; American Kuhne's tri-layer medical tubing line; and American Kuhne's AKcent co-extruder.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Pretium to pay $252,700 in sex discrimination settlement
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Plastics News would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor at [email protected]

    Most Popular
    1
    Clean Vision to spend $50M on West Virginia pyrolysis plant
    2
    Plastics treaty talks get down to specifics
    3
    PP resin prices saw a big drop in May
    4
    At plastics treaty, designing bottle bills for the 'Global South'
    5
    MGS adds product design to offerings with acquisition
    SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe today

    Subscribe to Plastics News

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Plastics News covers the business of the global plastics industry. We report news, gather data and deliver timely information that provides our readers with a competitive advantage.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI 48207-2997

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1723

    Resources
    • About
    • Staff
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Media Kit
    • Data Store
    • Digital Edition
    • Custom Content
    • People
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Sitemap
    Related Crain Publications
    • Sustainable Plastics
    • Rubber News
    • Tire Business
    • Urethanes Technology
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Processor News
        • Injection Molding
        • Blow Molding
        • Film & Sheet
        • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
        • Rotomolding
        • Thermoforming
        • Recycling
      • Suppliers
        • Machinery
        • Materials
        • Molds/Tooling
        • Product news
        • Design
      • More News
        • K Show
        • Mergers & Acquisitions
        • Sustainability
        • Public Policy
        • Material Insights Videos
        • Numbers that Matter
      • Digital Edition
      • End Markets
        • Automotive
        • Packaging
        • Medical
        • Consumer Products
        • Construction
      • Special Reports
        • Processor of the Year
        • Best Places to Work
          • 2023 winners
        • Women Breaking the Mold
        • Rising Stars
        • Diversity
        • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
      • Newsletters
      • Videos
    • Opinion
      • The Plastics Blog
      • Kickstart
      • One Good Resin
      • Pellets and Politics
      • All Things Data
      • Viewpoint
      • From Pillar to Post
      • Perspective
      • Mailbag
      • Fake Plastic Trees
    • Shop Floor
      • Blending
      • Compounding
      • Drying
      • Injection Molding
      • Purging
      • Robotics
      • Size Reduction
      • Structural Foam
      • Tooling
      • Training
    • Events
      • K Show Livestream
      • Plastics News Events
        • Plastics News Executive Forum
        • Injection Molding & Design Expo
        • Plastics News Caps & Closures
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
        • Plastics in Automotive
      • Industry Events
      • Injection Molding & Design Expo
      • Livestreams/Webinars
        • Bioplastics Live
        • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
      • Editorial Livestreams
        • Polymer Points Live
        • Numbers that Matter Live
        • Plastics in Politics Live
        • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Ask the Expert
      • Plastics News Events Library
        • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
        • Plastics in Healthcare Library
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
      • Processor of the Year submissions
    • Rankings & Data
      • Injection Molders
      • Blow Molders
      • Film Sheet
      • Thermoformers
      • Pipe Profile Tubing
      • Rotomolders
      • Mold/Toolmakers
      • LSR Processors
      • Recyclers
      • Compounders - List
      • Association - List
      • Plastic Lumber - List
      • All
    • Directory
    • Resin Prices
      • Resin Prices Overview
      • Commodity Thermoplastics
      • High Temperature Thermoplastics
      • Engineering Thermoplastics
      • Recycled Plastics
      • Thermosets
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
      • Conair Sponsored Content
      • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
      • ENGEL Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • Sign up for Early Classified