SIPA of Italy, a global leader of PET Stretch Blow Moulding Machines for the production of PET bottles, are offer machines that can produce 15, 20, 30 & 40 litre PET kegs with both a single stage system (from resin to finished container in a single machine) or two-stage systems (perform injection separate from bottle blow moulding).
SIPA has widened its range of operations by creating innovative alternate containers which have lower production costs, and which have a reduced carbon footprint when compared to traditional returnable containers.
Working in conjunction with their customer, KeyKeg Beer, of the Netherlands, SIPA developed machinery that can produce beer kegs of 15, 20, 30 & 40 litres. Traditionally beer kegs have been made of aluminium, however by converting to one trip recyclable PET kegs, advantages can be achieved in terms of reduced costs, speed and ease of production, as well as for logistics. The PET barrels encapsulated in a branded outer sleeve are stackable and have plastic handles that can be easily attached automatically at the time of filling.
Further benefits are the energy saving incurred as compared to returning, handling and storing the aluminium kegs and the energy and environmental issues associated with cleaning and sterilization of the kegs for reuse.
SIPA’s all electric SFL2/2 can be configured with two blow moulding cavities for the production of containers of up to 25 litres with a neck finish of up to 65mm or with one blow moulding cavity, containers of 40 litres with neck finish of up to 85mm are possible.
A further enhancement is the unique SIPA ‘air recovery system’ ARS which significantly reduces energy consumption by recovering the high pressure blowing air which is a significant requirement for the production of large PET containers.
Other innovative SIPA alternate PET solutions include PET jerry cans, traditionally made of HDPE, replacing tinplate cans and the bulk containers for water coolers which have been made of polycarbonate.
The new SIPA SFL2/2 will be demonstrated at the Chicago NPE Plastics exhibition on 22nd to 26th June. SIPA are represented in Oceania by HBM Plastics & Packaging Technologies .