Husky and Netstal Launch Large PET Preform Mould

Mike Urquhart, Husky's vice president of PET systems, demonstrated a 216-cavity PET preform mold at NPE2006. He said that this mold is the world's largest pre-molded mold and is suitable for converting various new applications from metal and glass to PET plastic.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ILLINOIS (August 1, 2006) -- At the recent NPE2006 show, a large-scale PET preform mold battle began. Netstal-Maschinen AG of Switzerland launched a 192-cavity preformer at the show, but Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. of Canada is also presenting just a few aisles. A 216 cavity preform mold.

Netstal and Husky have fierce competition in high-speed packaging machines and PET preform molding. Both parties stated that the NPE2006 held in Chicago, United States, was their first exhibition to launch large-scale PET preforms.

This NPE show is the first exhibition of Netstal's 192 cavity preformer. Company officials announced at the last German K show that Netstal had developed a preforming machine with a 192-cavity mold, but did not make appearances at K Show, but exhibited a smaller 96-cavity preformer.

Husky said that its 216-cavity preform mold is the largest in the world. Industry observers say that Husky is still the leader in the field of preformers.

Both company officials used vague diplomatic terms to talk about each other.

The way the two sides exhibited on the NPE was significantly different. Netstal company conducted a production demonstration of the preform mold at the site, and Husky's new mold was only displayed in the exhibition hall. This to Netstal's senior director Bernhard Merki said that this and the individual Nothing to like, just business.

Merki said: "A lot of customers are looking for a second supplier. Market signs also show that companies are now fully prepared to implement. They have already learned about our technology. Everything is ready." Netstal's PET The -Line model caused a sensation in the exhibition hall. This machine has a clamping force of approximately 600 tons and can cast more than 90,000 preforms per hour. The resin is injected into a large mould by a Conair silo which runs at the NPE for four hours a day. The machine's preform cycle time is only 7.4 seconds.

Netstal has sold a 192-cavity preformer to Berkshire Bottling Works in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Husky also found a buyer for its 216-cavity mold, Amcor PET Packaging in the United States. Company officials said Husky and Amcor, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, developed the mold. The mold will be located at Amcor's US plant, but details of the plant have not been disclosed.

Mike Diletti, Husky's vice president of sales and marketing, took 216-cavity molds as an example to illustrate Husky's important strategy to help major customers increase their production efficiency. This large mold is designed for Husky HyPET injection molding machines with a clamping force of approximately 650 tons.

Does Husky's 216-cavity preform mold try to overshadow the Netstal new machine? Diletti replied that Amcor carefully weighed all multi-cavity molds, including the Husky Index preformer with a rotating mold.

Diletti said: "Amcor evaluated all multi-cavity molds for its new molding project and chose 216-cavity molds."

Therefore, both machinery manufacturers are committed to satisfying customers' needs, and they are also watching closely for each other's new trends.

Source: CRAIN Communications