With the XTREME, injection-compression molding overcomes the issue of filling molds with very thin walls by having the molds slightly open when injection starts, and then closing them as dosing finishes. This means lower injection pressure can be used, lower clamp force is needed (which has the additional benefit of extending mold life), and there is less stress on the melt – which means acetaldehyde (AA) levels are reduced, and resin intrinsic viscosity (IV) falls less. It is now possible to produce preforms with bases thinner than before.
The XTREME Sincro provides versatility, reduces product changeover times, and produces high-quality preforms. With its rotary configuration and its pneumatic actions, XTREME easily fits into integrated preform molding and blowing operations. In the XTREME Sincro, it is directly coupled to an SFR EVO3 next-generation rotary stretch-blow molding unit. EVO3 systems are faster, more versatile, and run even more efficiently than their predecessors.
Special features include new designs in the clamp unit and in the cams that help the SFR EVO3 achieve a maximum output rate of 2250 bottles per hour per cavity. A new blowing valve block is more compact than before, and has 35% less dead air volume. Also the overall footprint of the XTREME Sincro system is reduced.
Special features include new designs in the clamp unit and in the cams that help the SFR EVO3 achieve a maximum output rate of 2250 bottles/hr/cavity. A new blowing valve block is more compact than before, and has 35% less dead air volume.
The integrated system is highly energy efficient. The XTREME injection-compression system uses lower temperatures than an injection molding system, reducing energy consumption of around 10% in that section alone. Also, there is no need on the XTREME Sincro to cool down the preforms immediately after they are molded, and the need to reheat them just before blowing is greatly reduced. Conventional ovens with infrared heaters are replaced by small ovens that use highly-efficient induction heating that is directed only at the areas of the preforms just below the neck.
Just like the XTREME preform molding system, the SFR EVO3 has a new standard mold changeover system that is quick and easy to use. It is also easy to convert from production of cold-fill to hot-fill containers. This is because, while the heating circuit remains in the shell holder, the cooling circuit is now built into the cavity. Only a simple cavity change is required to switch from production of one type of container to another, while the shell holders remain in place.
The fully-integrated XTREME Sincro system can be directly connected to filling equipment developed and produced by Sipa, making possible a complete, fully-integrated line stretching from preform to filled bottle—which can be packaged and palletized using SIPA systems.
