In PET bottle production, ensuring each bottle is the right weight for the product while meeting quality and performance requirements is paramount.
Agr says its Pilot family of automated material distribution measurement and blow moulder process control systems offer a prime solution for optimising production in these essential areas.
The Pilot systems are designed for high-volume PET bottle production in the beverage industry, where consistent quality, efficiency and material optimisation are critical.
The Pilot systems mount inside the blow moulder and automatically control the production process based on continuous monitoring of material distribution on every bottle. According to Agr, the comprehensive and precise thickness measurement provided by the Pilot systems is key to accomplishing proper process control – without operator intervention.
Not matched by humans
The automated system monitors operation 100 per cent of the time for the slightest changes in material distribution and continuously adjusts the blow moulder to keep the process on track, with a level of control that is considered unattainable by human operators.
Pilot systems are available in the standard and Pilot Core versions. The standard system easily keeps up with the fast speeds of today’s blow moulders, says Agr, while the Pilot Core system is geared towards lines producing bottles with less geometric complexity at lower speeds.
Each system has evenly spaced points that provide direct measurements over the entire sidewall of the bottle, regardless of shape or material thickness. Any change in distribution can be identified from source to destination.
With this feedback, Agr claims the Pilot systems provide precise process control and monitor performance factors on a per-bottle basis while eliminating the variation in environment, material or operator experience.
Agr claims the optimisation keeps the process efficient and cost-effective, providing real savings in:
Materials
Productivity
Quality
Reduced scrap
Overall cost
Energy
Downtime
Labour
Complete understanding of the bottle
This comprehensive measurement approach offers a complete understanding of the bottle and, through continuous monitoring and adjustment, maintains the blowing process at optimum levels.
The system improves production efficiency by reducing scrap, resin usage, energy consumption, and downtime. The Pilot systems lower reliance on manual adjustments, resulting in more stable and predictable line performance.
They are also said to enable lighter weight bottle designs and higher rPET usage to support sustainability goals without compromising quality.
With the ability to maintain consistent process control in demanding PET bottle production environments of all types and sizes, the Pilot systems help ensure reliable output, improved efficiency, and optimised resource usage across the entire blowing process.
More information from Agr International
