INNOVATION | CAPS & CLOSURES


Right: At Fakuma 2018, an all-electric E-cap 380 from Engel manufac- tured 26 mm caps including tamper-proof bands at a cycle time of under two seconds


Right: Audible and tactile feedback can be utilised. For flip top and push top closures, the audible ‘click’ provides a cue that the closure has been opened or closed


ence. A taller closure also conveys a premium image as it has additional prominence on the package. A knurl pattern can also be used. The quantity, form, frequency, profile and depth of the knurls all contribute to a differentiation and the premium perception. “The form and contour of the closure can communicate a premium message as well. In addition, audible and tactile feedback can be utilised. For flip top and push top closures, the audible ‘click’ when opening and closing provides a cue that the closure has been opened or closed. The tactile experience or resistance of the closure when opening or closing can also provide addi- tional feedback as to the premium positioning of the product.”


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Below: The ultra-high speed


580-tonne El-Exis SP from Sumitomo (SHI) Demag


While new developments in caps and closures are focused on sustainability, safety, user experience, shelf differentiation and performance, there are some new solutions required in injection moulding for caps and closures. “The single use plastic regulations require a re-think on how we develop closures that are contiguously affixed to the bottle,” says White. “These new designs must provide a satisfying consumer experience, provide similar or better product performance, and accomplish all of this without adding weight to the closure. At Husky, we are committed to developing consumer packaging solutions that minimise environmental impact, and that are of the highest functionality and convenience, with uncompro- mised food and consumer safety. Designs that comply with the European single use plastic regulations will be introduced later this year.”


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Husky adds that it is also continuously innovating and collaborat- ing on solutions that enable packages with improved recyclability and containing more recycled content. This involves participating in research and forming partnerships on alternative materials and engineered packages to support sus- tainability efforts. Finally, the company says that it is introducing smaller format CSD (carbonated soft drink) closures compatible with new neck finishes that exceed the current level of performance at a lower product weight.


It is all about performance and cycle times with caps and closures, says Engel. In order to increase both continuously, the company is working to develop its E-cap machine further. At last year’s


Fakuma, the company highlighted the E-cap with optimised movement profiles, and further developments in all-electric caps produc- tion will be presented at K 2019. At Fakuma 2018, Engel demonstrated a further


reduction in cycle times for the production of caps. An all-electric Engel E-cap 2440/380 was used to produce 26 mm caps, including tamper-proof bands made of HDPE, at a cycle time of under two seconds under realistic manufacturing conditions. Optimised movement profiles now allow for an increased output, says the company. The Engel E-cap 380 with 3,800 kN of clamping force can provide a dry cycle time of just 1.4s. Engel says that the E-cap is the only cap machine on the market providing all-electric opera- tion with a clamping force range as high as 4,200 kN. At the same time, it is the most energy-efficient machine in its class. Despite its substantial output, the E-cap showcased at Fakuma only needed around 0.4 kWh of electricity to process 1kg of plastic granulate. The exhibit involved a 72-cavity mould from Z-moulds of Dornbirn, Austria, as well as a dry air system from Blue Air Systems of Kundl, Austria and a camera inspection system from IMDvista of Brügg, Switzerland. Collaboration between Sumitomo (SHI)


18 INJECTION WORLD | April 2019 www.injectionworld.com


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