Monza, Italy — Magic MP SpA developed an all-electric blow molding machine to produce containers for hand sanitizer and other products in higher demand because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ME T18 produces more than 3,600 plastic containers per hour in a compact configuration that meets global health standards for clean rooms, according to Pietro Spiga, Magic's North America area manager.
"We designed a new configuration with an internal pick and place to save 40 percent [of required] space compared to the previous generation models," Spiga said in an email. "It turns out that one of the benefits was to have more space in the production plant to satisfy the high market demand."
The software was updated, too, to track the machine in real time and store records, Spiga said.
In addition, the all-electric machine has no oil in the circuit, which eliminates a potential source of contamination, and it is energy-efficient.
"The machine has 50 percent less energy consumption in full production and 70 percent less maintenance cost [compared with] a hydraulic machine," Spiga said. "This was possible thanks to many years of experience and R&D. In fact, we were the first blow molding machine manufacturer to build an all-electric machine back in 1997. Also, the market is stating that today the all-electric technology improves the quality of the bottle production."
For flexibility, Magic can combine clamp stoke, clamp tonnage, extruder size and head cavitation to meet different production needs, Spiga added.
Magic builds 3- to 66-ton machines with single and double stations from 1-24 parison heads in Monza, Italy, where Spiga said the company opened a second plant three years ago.
"Seventy percent of Magic machines' components are built in-house, therefore the first plant is dedicated to build the machine components and in the second plant the machines are assembled and tested," Spiga said.
The company's U.S. headquarters is in White Lake, Mich.
For more information, contact Spiga at [email protected] or 734-358-7722.