Ergonomic handle for large-format PET

Source： Release Date：2011-01-06 235

ELEGANT and triangular in shape, a new large-format PET bottle has a deep grip that makes it easier to use and an ideal package for water or oil. The stylish appearance of the three-litre "DeepGrip" - the first PET bottle with a deep blow-moulded grip, requiring no external handle - belies the technology behind the design. Produced using Sidel's patent pending punching-conforming technology makes it possible to manufacture single-material packages in large, functional formats. Developed in partnership with PTI-Europe, the bottle includes a deep grip to give consumers an ergonomic handle. A single-material package Trying to make bottles with deep grips using traditional blow moulding technologies has a number of technical limitations. For example, to be deep enough, the grip has to be outside the inscribed diameter of the preform. This requires offsetting the grip area and increases blow-moulding complexity for a grip that, in the end, does not provide the desired ergonomics. To achieve the deep grip area using punching-conforming production process does not require an additional step to insert the handle. There is no more need to purchase or inject handles, and the efficiency losses due to handle infeed or transfer can be eliminated. Further benefits of this single-material bottle include new shape possibilities and the need for just one recycling stream. Punching-conforming on a single machine The DeepGrip bottle is produced on a single machine, at a speed of 800 bottles per hour and per mould. This inline process means that there is no need for an intermediate conveyor between the blow moulding and conforming functions. This keeps efficiency high and machine footprint low. First, the bottle is blow-moulded in a standard mould using a traditional process, where the reversed cavity of the future grip is preformed, creating two "ears". It is then conveyed by its neck with grips for transfer to the conforming mould. There, the two "ears" are pressed against each other to obtain the deep grip through punching. The pistons turn the material over and form the grip, whilst simultaneous blowing at a pressure of less than 20 bar inside the bottle prevents any deformation. Available on SBO Compact 2XXL blow moulders, this machine configuration can also be used for the blow moulding of traditional bottles.

Convenience back on the drawing board As some countries emerge from recession in 2010, a new report from Canadean says beverage packaging is reverting to trend

OVER the last two years we have experienced a global economic downturn, declining consumer spending power, volatile packaging materials prices and more difficult access to capital investment. According to Canadean's latest special interest report 'Innovation in Beverage Packaging 2010', this unwelcome combination of factors has resulted in a slowdown and, in some cases, complete reversal of longer-term beverage packaging design trends. For many years the key drivers of beverage packaging design were increased use of added value and convenience features, more sophisticated packaging materials, smaller 'on-the-go' packs and more elaborate shapes, designs and print. But over the last two years the focus has shifted strongly to cost and cost-related factors such as materials reduction, light-weighting and improvements in line efficiency, filling techniques and cost-effectiveness. And all this has to be achieved, wherever possible, without the loss of functionality and quality and at the same or a lower price. As some countries have begun to emerge from recession in 2010, there are signs however that the underlying long-term economic, demographic and consumer-led changes are beginning to have the upper influence again, causing packaging design to revert to trend. These are the findings of Canadean's report, which examines key deveAir Jordan IV 4 Shoes