A new rotary blowmoulder model has been presented for the first time at the K show in Düsseldorf last October
SFR 6 EVO is the smallest version of the range, with 6 blowing cavities. It is ultra compact and can produce up to 13,800 bottles/hour. At the trade fair the machine were producing at the output of 2,300 b/h/c.
This new machine is based on a technology which is the result of two excellent blowing systems that SIPA has developed over the years: SFL range linear blowmolders, an incredible worldwide success and SFR rotary blowmolders which are considered among the most reliable systems on the market.
SFR 6 Evo combines the main advantages of these two systems.
Many winning aspects have been adapted from SIPA SFL linear technology, including:
- The preform alignment system is inside the machine contributing to its compactness and, in addition to a smaller footprint, means that the machine can be shipped in a single unit making its subsequent installation much faster.
- Handling of the preforms is performed by a technopolymer transport chain, with the neck up and with very simple and slow movements.
- The heating oven features great process flexibility and can be used to produce extremely high quality standard containers as well as hot fill containers in various shapes;
As an option, SFR 6 Evo can be equipped with an electrical stretch unit: this means process adjustment is completely flexible and containers can be manufactured at different speeds: a normal requirement when container production is synchronised with filling and capping (SincroBloc version). The following advantages, instead, have been maintained from SIPA SFR rotary technology:
- the traditional blowing unit with vertical mold opening (SIPA patent) which ensures maximum simplicity of preform/bottle transfer wheels. Peripheral speeds are much lower than other technologies present on the market, a winning aspect for high speed operation;
- blowing units and relative electronic control specifically developed to ensure process consistency at the highest speeds (in this case up to 2,300 bph per cavity).
- SIPA ARS and ARS-PLUS air recovery systems which mean a 50% saving on compressed air and electricity.
SFR 6 Evo has increased the portfolio of possible applications that can be implemented with SIPA SFR technology. Extremely lightweight and particularly complex containers can be manufactured: for example, the latest industrial application is a 1 litre container which weighs just 16g with preforms which determine a total stretch ratio that actually reaches 18, produced at a speed of 2,200 bph per cavity, a real record. In addition, this is the first rotary machine which will be able to be equipped with preferential heating thanks to a wide experience on oval containers manufacturing with the linear blowing system’s oven.
Even production in SincroBloc version for CSD containers has been improved, the blowing speed can be changed based on the filling capacity (high speeds on small formats and low speeds on large formats), including low blowing pressure, i.e. starting from 16 bar. The machine’s flexibility has been further increased with the possibility of producing hot fill containers for juices and sensitive products and special containers with specific neck finishes (yoghurt, detergents, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, etc).
