The Graham Group, York, Pa., last month announced it had bought controlling interest in American Kuhne (AK), the Ashaway, R.I.-based manufacturer of extruders, screws, and integrated extrusion systems.

New models of blow molding machines at the show were dominated by wheel machines and stretch-blow systems.

Wheel machines in particular will be on display.

More output, bigger parts, more complex shapes, and more automation are the themes to look for in blow molding equipment at NPE.

For a century, the Hedstrom companies have produced millions of play balls and components for gym and swing sets, riding toys, and other juvenile products. Today, faced with intensifying competitive pressures, the group is hard at work putting the right bounce into its survival strategy for one of the toughest molding sectors.

Several new developments include a brand-new compression blow process, the first foamed PET bottles, and a preform decontamination approach for aseptically filled products sold at ambient temperature. Attendees also saw a new stack-mold Multi-Parting Line concept that doubles bottle output within the same machine footprint. (Additional NPE blow molding news appeared in May and June—see Learn More box.)

Extrusion machinery at the June NPE show in Chicago showed inventive ways to get more out of your floorspace and materials.

While occupying a relatively small category of exhibits, blow molding will present no lack of innovation at NPE.

Injection MoldingHybrid Press Has Electric ClampNew injection presses that combine servo-electric and hydraulic movements to achieve high performance with energy efficiency will be discussed by Arburg Inc., Newington, Conn.

Development of all-electric and hybrid-electric blow molding machines may be gaining momentum, as evidenced by several new models introduced in Dusseldorf.

There will be a strong emphasis on energy savings in blow molding machinery at K 2007.

A new "shot-pot" extrusion blow molding machine from Graham Engineering Corp., York, Pa., is being used to make industrial containers.

Extrusion blow molding a container with a handle may sound easy.

Show-goers will see a range of new blow molding equipment that offers higher speeds, more cavitation, and faster changeovers.

Improving productivity while minimizing capital cost and floorspace will be central themes of blow molding exhibits at NPE 2006.

A rotary wheel machine that sets a new standard for high-volume blow molding of motor-oil bottles was one of the major announcements at the recent SPE Blow Molding Conference in Toledo.

Among the more unusual blow molding developments at K 2004 was a closed-loop control system that monitors and corrects material distribution in PET containers as they are produced.

One of the most interesting innovations in blow molding at K 2004 will be a top-and-bottom blowing system that is said to double bottle output.

Examples of the growing trend toward all-electric blow molding machines for packaging will either be physically present or shown in videos and brochures at NPE.

Heinz, Nestle, Dannon, Tropicana, and other packagers have discovered an eye-catching way to launch new food products: They design a shapely blow molded bottle, then totally envelop it with a brightly colored shrink or stretch label. This marketing concept could launch tens of billions of plastic bottles in the next few years.

One cluster of blow molding innovations on display at K 2001 will address the need for more versatile single-stage injection stretch-blow molding (ISBM) machines. A thirst for energy savings underlies plans to launch all-electric units for PET and HDPE containers. Also in the limelight are advances in large-part technical blow molding.

Examples of the growing trend toward all-electric blow molding machines for packaging will either be physically present or shown in videos and brochures at NPE. Superior accuracy, repeatability, speed, quietness, cleanliness, and energy efficiency are all claimed for the five new all-electric models being presented by four firms at the show.