New barrier materials for small fuel tanks, tooling developments for large, flat, and odd-shaped industrial parts, new all-electric machines for large containers, and gravimetric extrusion control for bottles are some of the topics discussed at the recent SPE Blow Molding Div. annual conference in Pittsburgh.

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

After years of talk, all-electric blow molding machines seem poised to make advances.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Kautex Machines Inc., North Branch, N.J., is offering a high-performance extruder retrofit program for all types of exrtrusion blow molding systems at what is said to be a reasonable price.

Growing use of electric drives in blow molding machinery gathered steam at the K 2010 show, as suppliers rolled out new all-electric and hybrid models for extrusion blow, injection-blow, and stretch-blow production.

Higher throughputs and greater energy efficiency will be two big themes in blow molding at next month’s K 2010 show.

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

Already a familiar sight on European store shelves, the eye-catching appeal of "IML" is gaining traction among North American injection molders. The latest tooling and automation designs can handle the higher volumes needed here.

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.)

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

Industrial-scale extrusion blow molding of a new styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBC) was demonstrated recently at German machine manufacturer Kautex Maschinenbau, represented here by Kautex Machines Inc., North Branch, N.J.

New and innovative techniques to help processors reduce energy consumption, eliminate secondary operations, and raise productivity were center stage at the recent SPE Blow Molding Conference in Bartlesville, Okla.

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

Private equity firm Steadfast Capital, Frankfurt, Germany, and a five-person management team have jointly acquired Kautex Maschinenbau in Bonn, Germany, from Munich-based Adcuram GmbH.

Among new blow molding developments at the show was an innovative coextrusion system for the growing small-engine fuel tank market.

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.

Coex blow molding has the inside track, but makers of small gas tanks and jerry cans are also looking at fluorination and other monolayer systems. Rotomolders, too, are considering multilayer alternatives.

Kautex Machines Inc., North Branch, N.J., has introduced the largest machine in its line of suction blow molders.

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.