Page 55 - Plastics News February 2024

PRODUCT NEWS

Bottle design 4
he availability of advanced instru- technological challenges. The first is technologies for both preform pro-
Tmentation and pilot lines means to create a technical-structural design duction (IPS, injection preform sys-
that every solution developed by the that brings the characteristics of the tem) and blow moulding (SBF rotary
Laboratory, together with customers, lightweight bottle as close as possible blow moulding machines also avail-
can be tested in the field to validate to the required functional specifica- able in combination with the filling
the performance of the cap, pre- tions and which provides a tradition- line), allow SACMI to work on the de-
form and blow moulded container. A al consumption experience for the sign, optimise it according to the cus-
knowledge of materials and techno- customer. The second involves the tomer's needs and to develop ad hoc
logical expertise that makes the dif- process, in terms of the increasing solutions based on commercial re-
ference, with innovative projects im- amount of recyclate in the mixtures, quirements. This ability also delivers
plemented all over the world and for which compared to a virgin resin, is advantages in terms of time-to-mar-
key players in the industry highly variable in terms of quality, vis- ket, with the possibility of fast proto-
Functional and elegant design, light- cosity, etc. type development (also using new 3D
weight and sustainable. With an in- For more than 10 years, SACMI has moulding techniques) and testing the
creasing proportion – which is grow- been investing in developing blow- prototypes of the blow moulded con-
ing in Europe because of regulations moulding technology. Robust, reliable, tainer on the actual line. Carrying out
– of recycled resin. This is modern high-performance machines ready to comprehensive trials and tests at this
beverage packaging; an approach that take on the challenge of new light- point minimises the risk of functional
over the past few years has revolu- weight containers and/or those made issues and faults at a later stage, such
tionised the sector, with SACMI at the with up to 100% recycled material. as after blowing, and having produced
forefront thanks to its facilities, skills SACMI has tested the various solu- entire batches of incorrect bottles.
and ability to develop a complete tions in the current supply chain, first SACMI is also the first company on the
range from product to technology, on still water containers and then on market to have integrated the PVS156
from preform development to the CSD containers, which is equally chal- intensive quality control system, pro-
duced by SACMI Computer Vision,
directly into its preform press, to pro-
vide an additional guarantee of perfect
production results and improved pro-
cess control. SACMI's research into
moulds and blow moulding tools has
resulted in the development of low-
pressure bottoms. A patented SACMI
system that drastically reduces the
consumption of compressed air.
Design from a lightweight (and re-
cycling) perspective
The key aspect of the offer, which
SACMI makes available to custom-
ers through the new SACMI Bever-
age Packaging Centre – which in turn
makes use of the skills of the Group's
Beverage and Rigid Packaging Labo-
ratories – was identifying a specific
full, capped and labelled containers. lenging due to the high quality and ‘design key’ to create lighter bottle
The technological challenge sealing performance required for car- designs while maintaining both a high
The lightweighting of containers and bonated beverage containers. aesthetics and performance charac-
the increasing use of recycled res- The proposal teristics.
ins (especially rPET) pose significant Resin testing and analysis, advanced The latter is an integrated approach
PLASTICS NEWS 57
February 2024