The COVID-19 emergency is changing the way we live. As we come out the other side, some things will go back to how they were, some things won’t. Hopefully, we will learn from the experience, and will be better prepared for the future.
One of the things we understand more than ever is the importance of personal hygiene. High on the list of our “to do” lists today is “Wash your hands.” That message is likely to stay with us through the days when we can look back on this time.
Soap and water is best, but when we get out and about again, maybe we’ll want to have a small liquid hand sanitizer about our person to do the job. Demand is likely to increase for small bottles that fit in the pocket or a handbag.
SIPA expects that the popularity of its ECS SP single-stage injection-stretch-blow molding (ISBM) units will increase further in the coming months, as converters invest in equipment to cater for increased demand for small PET bottles that can be fitted with spray or dosing units for sanitizing liquids. These compact and highly flexible machines can also be used for production of small bottles for pharmaceuticals, which may well also be needed in increased quantities, as well as other non-food and food products.
SIPA’s expertise in ISBM systems stretches back over more than 30 years. The company offers “ECS” equipment capable of making anything from miniature bottles through to large containers holding as much as seven liters.
Customers like them because the costs associated with several elements of two-step processes (preform handling, preform storage, preform cooling and reheating) disappear.
There are two models of four-station (injection, conditioning, blowing, discharge) ECS SP units dedicated to small containers, the ECS SP80 and its smaller sibling, the ECS SP25 (the numbers refer to injection clamp force in tonnes). Both are ideal for production of containers as small as 10 mL. Large tie-bar spacing also enables production of containers up to 12.5 L in volume (on the ECS SP80).
