'In-house' blow-moulding of PET containers, with production capacities up to 10,000 bottles/h, can be accommodated with the latest linear KSB-8L stretch blow-moulder
PET containers are becoming the norm for filling operations involving soft drinks, bottled waters and even edible oils. However, costs associated with storage and transportation of these low-weight to large-volume ratio container products can be considerable, particularly for high-throughput bottling lines. In-house blow-moulding of PET containers, with production capacities up to 10,000 bottles/h, can be accommodated with the latest linear KSB-8L stretch blow-moulder from Kosme.

This versatile machine is designed for the supply of cylindrical and petaloid containers in sizes up to 110mm diameter, 340mm length and from 0.2 to 2.0 litres capacity.

The machine incorporates a preform supply system with chute, conveyor and input ramp feeding a blow-moulder with integrated stove, preform combiner, blow stations and built-in control panel.

The latest eight cavity model is based upon a technically successful four cavity predecessor, but clever design ensures that no more floor space is required for the new higher throughput model.

The benefits are not limited to footprint size, however, as the equipment can produce high-quality PET bottles with reductions in both energy and air-consumption levels.

Preforms with 28mm PCO/PCO high/BPF/BPF light/Alaska/30-25 and oil threads can be processed.

Bottle production can be tailored exactly to customer specifications, while easy changeover procedures and short conversion times ensures that smaller batch runs with different containers can be accommodated as well as large runs utilising the same containers.

Direct connection via neck handling air conveyor transportation to the filling unit can be established to achieve full function in-house direct on-line operation with maximum efficiency.

The KSB-8L machine is technically advanced, but is based upon simple sequences of the preform movements within the structure to achieve a high degree of reliability and performance.

This is combined with excellent access to all components, reduced maintenance and wear and easy-to-exchange blow moulds comprising twin independent modules each with four blowing stations.

During operation, the hopper-stored preforms are orientated to hanging from their neck rings for transfer through the heating zone while being continually rotated.

On exit, they are picked-up in groups of 2 x 4 prior to separation.

At this stage, an infra-red camera is used to check the preform temperature which is compared via the control system to operating parameters, with adjustments undertaken to the heating process if required.

Automatic spacing is carried out at pitch centres from 40 to 120mm, prior to the heated preforms being positioned in the blow mould cavities.

After sealing, the stretching and air blowing is carried out until the containers are fully formed.

Once cooled, the completed bottles are de-aerated and transported to storage or transferred direct to the filling operation.