Sidel blow bottle costs reduced by 20%

Compared with SBOSeries2 equipment, PET bottle blowing costs have dropped by up to 20%. This is a breakthrough for Sidel's new generation of SBO UniversalTM Blow Molding Machines, which were first introduced globally at the Interpack International Exposition.

First of all, the series blowing machine is suitable for various packaging lines. Whether it's pure or carbonated mineral water, carbonated drinks, or sensitive drinks, sauces or detergents, Sidel's SBOUniversalTM machine can handle all your products. In addition, special packaging bottles can be designed and manufactured, such as the use of heat resistance (HR) process for the production of hot-filled bottles, or the use of irregular bottle heating (PreferentialHeating) process to produce flat or complex shape of the bottle. Like Se-ries2+, the SBOUniversal blow molding machine is designed to produce 0.25-liter to 3-liter bottles on standard mold cavities. And these machines can also be specially configured to produce bottles as large as 5 or 6 liters.

With the introduction of new polymers into the market, Sidel took the lead in conducting related research, particularly in raw materials and processes. The new generation of SBOUni-versalTM blow molding machines can be used to produce PET or PP bottles without changing their configuration, and both bottles can be produced at similar output rates. At the same time, a new design was adopted for the preform and the bottle and the cavity to better adapt to the shrinkage law. At the same time, the process has also been adjusted to accommodate higher speeds. Through the application of new machine kinematics and the development of a 40 mm pitch new preform heater, the overall productivity has been increased to 1,800 bottles per cavity. The blow moulding machine is equipped with a new polished aluminium casing that not only integrates with other Sidel equipment on the packaging line, but also offers greater functionality. The new channel makes the feeder more accessible. The introduction of the furnace door opening and the new blowing wheel frame make it easier for the operator to access the machine system for maintenance. The new maintenance-free components and the improved maintenance plan also reduce maintenance time.

The new patented mold base design together with the new telescopic stopper without fastening device helps to shorten the bottle changeover time. The new enclosure also makes the machine more accessible and more ergonomic. All feeder parameters and preform specifications are stored in the process parameter settings so that production can be restarted faster. The new preform loading design avoids low-load production and increases the blowing machine output by at least 2%. Recirculating conveyors prevent the preforms from clogging each other. The guide rollers are of novel design. If the preforms are clogged or excessive, they will automatically withdraw and then be returned to the hopper through the built-in circulating belt under the guide roller. The new automatic control device on the blowing machine controls the feeding speed of the guide roller through the control loop to control the speed of the guide roller, while the lifting column maintains the normal number of preforms fed by the blowing machine. The new machine program controls downtime to ensure safe and reliable production. Improperly filled preforms or defective, unqualified or “junctionally” finished bottles exit the area to help prevent accidental production shutdowns.

The new blast station reduced the air volume in the blast due to a 27% reduction in the dead zone in the air line. The air circulation option included with the flowmeter saves at least 15% of the air consumption. Moreover, the development of special bottle shapes makes it possible to blow bottles at low pressure. As a result of these improvements, customers can reduce the size of air compressors, thereby reducing the overall purchase price by about 15%.

Sidel has made significant progress in the thermal regulation of preforms. The unprecedented design of the radiant oven allows Sidel blow moulders to produce high quality bottles with excellent repeatability and stability in their heating curves. In addition, the built-in preform detection module (optional) and inline bottle quality control (option) further enhance the system's functionality. The flexibility of the heating of the equipment and its ability to fully control the production parameters extend the process. It also increases the mechanical strength of the bottles, allowing the production of lighter containers. Even if the production speed is increased to 1800 b/h/m, the heating time of the preform remains basically unchanged due to the adoption of a new heating furnace with a spacing of 40 mm and no need for increased heating power. The new heating zone regulation system (all settings for all furnace luminaires, as well as the layout of individual luminaires is completely controlled by the PCC) led to an average drop in power consumption of approximately 15%. A measuring device is built into the system, which measures the power consumption during the production of the blower. The system then displays the measurement results on the HMI screen.

In addition to making the system more accessible and more efficient new chassis, the machine's new control station is also more humane and more intuitive. It is equipped with a 17-inch screen and XP interface, simplifies the blower operation, production quality and process supervision, production tracking, machine setup and maintenance. Because the new equipment comes standard with the EIT system, automatic tracking of production and downtime is achieved, and the cause of downtime can be analyzed, so that the system can quickly resume operation.

The new generation of SBOUniversal Plastic Bottle Blowing Machine ensures the maintenance and lower cost of low-value and easy-to-use spare parts. The new maintenance-free components help improve the efficiency of the maintenance plan and reduce the downtime of the machine. New motion mechanisms with smaller inertia and less mechanical stress, new blast stations, new transfer arms, and new air swivel joints all reduce planned maintenance downtime. Since the power distribution cabinet is built into the heating furnace, the overall size of the blowing machine is significantly reduced. The new preform dispenser is also more compact. With more space, customers can add additional equipment, or use this location near the machine to store mold cavities and custom accessories.

The 2% increase in the output of the SBOUniversal blow molding machine means that the entire packaging line yields even more. The blowing machine's production speed is now increased to 1800b/h/m, allowing users to choose a smaller blowing machine while maintaining the same output rate and reducing the overall investment cost of the packaging line. Moreover, since the time required for the bottle-type conversion of the blowing machine is generally the longest compared to other equipment on the packaging line, the time has now been shortened, thereby shortening the bottle-type conversion time of the entire packaging line. The new equipment consumes less gas, so customers can choose smaller compressors to further reduce investment costs. If purchased in Combi Blow, Fill or Seal, the SBO Univer-salTM machine will achieve greater productivity with integrated solutions for blowing, filling, and capping.