Page 60 - AMEFT Journal 2021-2

PROCESSING & PACKAGING
Krones: When speed rules
The 100th Krones Contiform 3 Speed is up and running at Odenwald Quelle.
No pressure pad means higher output and efficiency
Whereas in the case of conventio- nal stretch blow-moulders, a pressure pad in the mould carrier additionally keeps the two halves of the mould to- gether during the stretch blow-moul- ding process, the Contiform 3 Speed has been designed in such a way that the two halves are kept together pu- rely by means of the revamped mould carrier locking mechanism.
The omission of the pressure pad means that the moulds can produce bottles with a volume of up to two litres – and this in a blow-module size so far used in the small-cavity machines, which is on average 22% smaller than the comparable blow module of the Contiform 3 Pro. But eliminating the pressure pad pro- vides advantages not only in terms of line layout but also in regard to media and energy consumption: it makes for savings of up to 15% of highly compressed air in com- parison to all other stretch blow- moulders currently available on the market.
In late 2018, Krones set a benchmark in stretch blow-moulding technolo- gy for PET bottles with the introduc- tion of its Contiform 3 Speed, boasting an hourly output so far unique in the sector: 2,750 containers per cavity.
Less than two years later, the 100th Contiform 3 Speed was sold. Since October 2020, this milestone machine from Krones has been up and running at the main facility of Odenwald Quelle, a producer of soft drinks headquartered in Heppen- heim, Germany.
For Andreas Schmidt, Managing Partner at Odenwald Quelle, the decision to opt for the stretch blow- moulder from the House of Krones came quickly and easily “The Conti- form 3 Speed boasts several persua- sively attractive pluses. It is compactly dimensioned and produces more con- tainers while consumption levels are lower. And it also effortlessly handles preforms made of rPET. This advan- tage was of crucial importance to us because we’ve since 2020 been sel- ling only plastic bottles made of 100% recyclate.”
60 AMEFT 2 2021
Less than two
years after the Contiform 3 Speed’s market launch, a hundred machines have already been sold. The 100th Contiform 3 Speed was delivered to the soft-drinks vendor Odenwald Quelle in Heppenheim, Germany.
(Source: Krones)
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