PROCESSING | CAPS AND CLOSURES


IMAGE: SUMITOMO (SHI) DEMAG


ered a cycle time of 2.9 seconds for a closure weighing 1.25g. “With its electro-hydraulic hybrid


drive, the Innova delivers sustainable advantages, particularly in packaging ap- plications,” said Daniel Ammer, vice president of R&D at PlastiVation Machin-


Above: Sumitomo Demag used a 420-tonne Pac-E machine to make packaging caps and closures


20 KraussMaffei machines from the CX and PX series (500-4,000 kN) to produce components that are 10-100mm in size. As well as pure injection moulding, Novassu offers finishing steps such as hot stamping.


All-electric options Sumitomo (SHI) Demag showcased several all-electric machines at K2025, with options from its IntElect and Pac-E platforms. Some were presented by automation partner


Sepro – which used an IntElect S 130t to make a 15ml centrifuge tube cap – and Technotrans, which showcased the production of reusable and reclosable lids on an IntElect S 75t with a SAM-C robot


Sumitomo Demag also unveiled two Pac-E machines, created in collaboration with electric drive specialists in Japan. The first 420-tonne Pac-E machine was used in a


packaging caps and closures demonstration with clean, digital inline cap printing. Developed by Swiss supplier Caprint, this fast changeover personalisation proves that processors moulding 72 caps every 2 seconds can seamlessly print and quality check customised designs for branding differentiation and match the closure moulding speed. The production cell also comprised a 72-cavity


Right: Engel showcased the automated production of closure caps at last year’s Drinktec


tool from Z-Moulds, a mould area dehumidification system from Eisbär and an inspection camera and box packing system from IMDVista.


High throughput Chinese machine manufacturer Tederic Machinery launched its Innova electro-hydraulic injection moulding machine series at K2025. It features an advanced plasticising system and a specially engineered screw design which ensures high throughput and consistent melt quality. The machine is aimed at high-performance packaging applications.


During the event, an Innova 250 with a clamping


force of 250 tonnes was demonstrated live, producing closures from high-density polyethylene (HDPE). A 24-cavity mould from Z-Moulds deliv-


20 INJECTION WORLD | March/April 2026 www.injectionworld.com


ery, a Tederic partner. “It achieves an injection speed of up to 700 mm/s, ensuring high production efficiency while significantly reducing energy consumption.”


Fast cycle At last year’s Drinktec, Engel showcase the automated production of closure caps. At the heart of the automated production cell was an all-electric e-cap 380 injection moulding machine with a clamping force of 3,800 kN. The application combined maximum energy efficiency with process consistency and showed how Engel increases cost-effectiveness in closure cap produc- tion through coordinated systems. The closures made for United Caps complied with beverage industry standards. The notch of a tamper-evident band – also called the guarantee ring – is formed in the mould, then folded inwards on the underside in a subsequent step. When opened for the first time, the ring separates from the cap body, providing an indication of whether the product has already been opened. Production was in a 48-cavity mould with a cycle


time of four seconds. In the automated production cell, integrated into the CC300 control unit, the 38mm caps were conveyed via a cooling conveyor with waterfall sorting to the folding station, where the lower edge of the band was bent inwards – en- suring a secure fit on the bottle neck. The e-cap series was designed for beverage


caps. It has short cycle times, high reproducibility and low energy consumption. The all-electric


IMAGE: ENGEL


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