Nissei ASB Launches Two-Step Reheat Stretch-Blow Machine for Wide Mouth Hot-Fill PET Containers, Unique Technology to Meet Growing Demand for Glass Replacement of Hot-Fill Foods
Nissei ASB Co., the wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Japan's Nissei ASB Machine Co. Ltd., has introduced the HSB-6M, a new two-step reheat stretch-blow moulding machine for the production of wide mouth hot-fill PET containers.
The company will demonstrate the new machine during K 2010, the 18th International Trade Fair Plastics + Rubber, Oct. 27-Nov. 3, in Düsseldorf, Germany (Hall 14 Booth B38).
In Europe and the U.S., the company foresees strong global growth for wide mouth hot-fill PET jars as a replacement for glass for a range of hot-fill foods such as sauces, pickles, jams, and jelly. Many of these products require filling at high temperatures (90 deg C) and until now glass has been the only viable option. This technology will enable production of PET jars which can be filled at temperatures above 90 deg C (194 deg F). Hot-fill PET jars will yield a major weight reduction and many sustainability advantages over glass including reduced freight costs and lower carbon footprint, according to ASB.
''The market for wide mouth hot-fill food containers appears ready to make the conversion from glass to lightweight PET and we have unique technology that will meet the demand of this high-growth segment,'' said Jamie Pace, vice president and general manager of Nissei ASB Co.
The HSB-6M can produce 300ml to 600ml hot-fill PET jars with standard 63-mm-diam. twist-off neck finishes at a nominal production rate of 6000 jars per hour. The new two-step reheat system incorporates the company's ''double blow molding'' technology which has been successfully used in Asia for more than 15 years for the production of narrow-neck hot-fill bottles. In the double blow molding production system, the preform is first blown in a primary mold and then undergoes high-temperature conditioning before passing to the final, secondary mold.
Along with the HSB-6M blow molding unit, ASB is launching a matching injection molding machine for preform production. The PM-170/111M model is a preform molding machine which injection molds preforms for either jars or bottles. Additionally, ASB is introducing the CM-6000M model neck crystallizer. This new machine takes the injection molded preforms and crystallizes the necks to enhance the heat-resistant properties of this part of the preform. This crystallization method reduces weight by as much as 10% to 20% compared to conventional necks produced by other competitive systems. These two machines are placed upstream from the HSB-6M blow molding machine and round out the dedicated production line for hot-fill PET jars.
ASB is selling the complete line globally and expects 10 lines to be commercially operational within 12 months.
Nissei ASB Launches Two-Step Reheat Stretch-Blow Machine for Wide Mouth Hot-Fill PET Containers, Unique Technology to Meet Growing Demand for Glass Replacement of Hot-Fill Foods