Arburg annual event showed latest trends in packaging

LOSSBURG – More than 220 packaging experts from Brazil, the US, Finland and Portugal to China and South Korea, and other parts of the world gathered in Lossburg for the “Arburg Packaging Days 2014”.  The packaging technology conference offered guests interesting specialist presentations, innovative live demonstrations and the opportunity for a lively exchange experiences.

Helmut Heinson, Director of Sales at Arburg welcomed the 220 international guests on 5 November as he talked about the importance of the topics such as machine availability, production efficiency and service and spare parts supply in the packaging packaging industry.

In this event, Arburg showed a live presentation of four injection moulding solutions for the cost-efficient production of thin-walled containers, closures and other packaging items. In a series of specialist presentations, internal and external speakers explained market trends and technical solutions. Moreover, guests had the opportunity to hold discussions with the experts and to take a look behind the scenes at the German machine manufacturer’s headquarters.

Innovative packaging applications

Arburg demonstrated a system built around a hybrid Allrounder 720 H in the “Packaging” (P) version as an example for the drinks industry. A 72-cavity mould from z-moulds was used to produce so-called PCO-1881 closures for carbonated soft drinks (CSD) in a cycle time of only around 3.5 seconds. Downstream, a closure cooling unit made by eisb?r Trockentechnik and an optical quality control system from Intravis were also on view.

A hybrid Allrounder 720 H, also in the “Packaging” (P) version , equipped with a mould from Roth Werkzeugbau, produced four 200 millilitre thin-walled barrier containers in a cycle time of 5 seconds. Thanks to the use of so-called “full cover labels”, these containers are also suitable for oxygen- or light-sensitive products. The special labels required a special insertion method, which was implemented in the IML system from Waldorf.

Arburg used a high-speed application to demonstrate the potential of the high-performance electric Alldrive machine series. An electric Allrounder 820 A with a clamping force of 4,000 kN and a size 2100 injection unit, equipped with a 24+24-cavity mould from Fratelli Bianchi produced 24 ready-to-ship cutlery sets in a cycle time of around 5.5 seconds.  This corresponded to an output of around 31,500 parts per hour. Removal and packaging in PP film were handled by an automation system from Campetella Robotic.

The fourth application in the Customer Center demonstrated the cost-effective production of thin-walled tubs. In addition, a hybrid Allrounder 570 H and a mould from Kebo were in action, on which the number of cavities can be varied. With this flexible test mould, Arburg actively promotes internal process acceptance processes, as well as the further development of its own machine technology.